Book 50 Noble Pursuits

Book 50: Noble Pursuits by Chautona Havig

I've read several books by this author and all have been enjoyable. In this book Nolan Burke has everything anyone could ever want, except he's alone.  He has lots of women throwing themselves at him, but he isn't interested in finding anyone that doesn't fit is wish list for God.  He finally decides that moving from his current location, to a neighboring town might be just what he needs to finally find the one  he is suppose to be with. He is not prepared for what he finds in this town though, especially when he meets his new neighbor Grace.
She is a force to be reckoned with, but for all the right reasons.  She isn't the model type that usually tries to latch onto him, instead she is beautiful first on the inside, and by seeing that beauty he begins to see her outward beauty as well.  Will their budding friendship turn into more, or will her over protective brother squash any future plans they may have.
Worth the read to find out.

I'd give this star 4 stars.

Books 45-49 The Dicarlo Bride Series Books 2-6

 

In one week I read all 5 of these books!  Yes, that's a lot of reading, but I did it in little bits here and there as I got lots of other things done around the house, so it only sounds bad.  Why did I read all 5 in one week...because they were good!  These 5 books finish off the story started in book one about the DiCarlo sisters.  Not all of them go by the same last name as they didn't even realize until the start of book one that they were sisters.  They discovered this family secret when their father George DiCarlo passed away. At the reading of his will they discover that they each have sisters they know nothing about and, to make matters worse if they want any part of the rather large inheritance they must give up their current job and help get their late father's newest resort up and running. Each has a specialty that they can bring to this newest project, but it does mean sacrificing what they have been doing for years. The alternative though is to lose the inheritance and have the money they would have earned given to a charity that they could not possibly support on their own.

In book one the main focus is on the oldest, Cami and how she is taking the news and on her budding relationship with Vince the grounds keeper, and local landscape architect.  In that book you soon discover that not only did George orchestrate their vocations he also made attempts to orchestrate their love lives by talking to several men that he thought would be perfect for his daughters.

In these other books each of the sisters are highlighted.  You are taken on a journey of them learning to trust each other, and open up about things from their past.  They of course all end up falling in love, and since the title of the series is the DiCarlo Brides, in can be determined that they all end up getting married too, or at least engaged.  On top of the romantic element that is present in each of the books there are also lots of twists, turns and complications.  Mysterious events are taking place and usually it's not who you think would be the people behind it that are causing these events to happen.

All of the books were well written. I especially appreciated that, while being romance novels, they were not filled with explicit content.  I look forward to reading more by Heather Tullis in the future.

I'd give this series 5 stars!

 

Books 43 and 44: Crossed and Reached

Book 2 in the Matched Series by Ally Condie. This was probably my favorite of the 3 books in this series.  In this book Cassia is in search of Ky who has been taken away from Society. In the process she begins to discover the truth about society and about herself and Ky as well as who Xander, her match really is as well.  The fast pace of them searching for each other in the Outer Provinces and the situation that is effecting society caused the book to be one that was hard to put down. 

I'd give this book 5 stars.

The final book in the series This was probably my least favorite of the series.  The book seemed to drag on with Xander searching for a cure and trying to help people fighting the plague, and Cassia trying to figure out who she could trust.  As the book moved on I could almost predict what was going to happen, and it did happen in almost that exact way.  I love character development so I would have really enjoyed the book more if after the story itself ended there had been a 5 or 10 years later chapter or two really wrapping up the lives of the characters.

Overall, when compared to Hunger Games and Divergent in terms of acceptability for teens this one wins out.  The story was intriguing, and for the most part the characters were well developed and their was a good deal of suspense involved.  The main reason it wins out is that there was implied violence, but the actual violence was not written out for you to read.  It also did not contain suggested sexual activity as the Divergent series did. 

I'd give this book 3 stars, but the series itself 5 stars.

Book 42: The & Day Prayer Warrior Experience

I try to read some books that will grow my faith every month on top of the fictional books I read.  Although I do try to stick with Christian Fiction as much as I can due to the fact that other books often have themes that even as an adult I don't need to fill my mind with.

This book was a short but powerful devotion that I read last week.  It breaks down the verses in Ephesians 6 where Paul talks about putting on the whole armor of God.  It goes through each item and describes why a Roman soldier would have worn that piece of clothing, and spiritually why we should as well.  Spiritual warfare is real.  The devil doesn't want us to be effective as Christians, he wants to render us useless.  To quote the book "God doesn't want us carrying anything that is unnecessary because it will weigh us down and hinder what He has called us to do". He wants us to be prepared for battle, and He knows it will come.  How we prepare is by being in His Word and spending time talking to Him through prayer.  These two steps will help to guard our hearts and our minds and keep us focused on the important things in our lives. 

Life won't always be easy, but if we spend time dressing as a soldier would for battle, daily then we will be ready when battle comes.

Great devotional book! 5 stars!

Book 41: Matched

by Ally Condie

Yes, once again I find myself with a teen who wants to read a book that is currently popular and I know nothing really about it. I went to one of my sources who is an avid reader and currently a collage student and she told me she was 3/4 of the way through it and was not discovering any inappropriate content.  Wish I didn't have to ask around to see if books for teens are overly sexual, but in today's society you have to work to keep kids minds pure. Having found all 3 of the books in the series for a total of $9 I decided to go ahead and read the book myself.

This book follows the theme of so many of the books our teens are reading these days, the idea of society controlling civilization. That part is a bit scary, in terms of why are so many authors writing the same theme over and over again and why as society are we scrambling to read those same theme of books over and over again.  In many ways you could pick up this book and not be sure whether you were reading the Hunger Games, or Divergent, aside from the characters names and in this case, at least through book 1, a lack of violence that the other books all contained.

In this book Cassia is going through her life as directed by society. On her 17th birthday she attends her Match ceremony where she is shown the person who she will marry when she turns 21. The problem is, she knows him.  That in itself is very rare.  On top of it, there is another problem with the microcard she is given to view details about him.  This problem launches her into meetings with the person she begins to call Her Official. An officer who is there to make sure she follows a certain path, the path of society.  This event and the death of her Grandfather is causing Cassia to being to wonder.  Wonder is what her Grandfather says even her late Grandmother would have wanted her to do.  Wonder, is this life right, is there more out there. 

As the book continues Cassia begins the journey of trying to figure that out with help from someone she never gave much thought to before.  Ky is that person, he's an outsider in many ways, but now Cassia is realizing that he has been there all along.  Will they discover truth, and be willing to take the chances needed to realize what is really going on in the world they live in.

Too much can be given away in a book review or on a cover of the book.  I don't wan to do that here, so you'll just need to read it yourself. I've moved on to book 2, and hope to finish the series before giving a final ok to my 12 year old to read the books, but so far I feel she could read book 1 for sure.

I'd give the book 5 stars.  So far it's a great series and less violent than Hunger Games or Divergent, even with the similar content.

Book 40: Four

Seems fitting that the book Four would be reviewed with the number 4 in the number of books I've read this year. (ok, fitting to me and I'm the one writing so, that's how it works!)

by Veronica Roth is a look into the life of one of the main characters in her Divergent Series named Four.  One of many advantages of having teens these days in the need to read what they are reading in order to see what is going into their brains.  I do check some book review sites, asking some older teens that I feel have godly values and do some basic research before I start reading the books as a final check, but with a 14 year old and a 12 year old I'm finding it vital to know what is being read.  This series was introduced to my older child as a read aloud in a class at school. Next thing I know he wanted to read the series.  The series, as I reviewed in earlier blogs is good overall, there is definitely  a theme of physical attraction running through the book, but I'm thankful that the author stopped and did not go into details as to what may or may not be happening. With the movie that came out, and so many teens talking about the series and movie I quickly read all of the books to make sure I'd allow the kids to see the movie even. Incidentally, it comes out today on DVD and most likely we will be at Target at some point today to get our copy.

Anyway, this book is stories of life before the first book picks up.  I'm always fascinated by people, and in this book it was like looking into the background of a person and getting a better understanding of who they are. The stories were short and I was able to read the whole book in about a 3 hour time span on a road trip.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the Divergent series.  It needs to be read at the end of the series though as otherwise it gives some information a way that would spoil some of the mystery in the actual books.

I'd give this book five stars.

Book 39: From Groucy to Great

Finding Joy in the Journey of Motherhood by Ruth Schwenk with The Better Mom contributor Team www.thebettermom.com

Am I a Grouchy Mom?  All the time? Some of the time?  Truth be told I can certainly be grouchy and I definitely have triggers that set me off.  When my kids were younger I wish I could say I wasn't grouchy a lot of the time, but I know that would be false.  I think I lived in a world of "this isn't how things are suppose to be" all the time. I was so caught up in my ideals not being met that I got grumpy, and certainly took it out on those around me.  I still have days where that happens, where the to do list doesn't get done, and my focus for the day isn't met and then I get grouchy for sure. Hopefully, my kids and husband would agree that those days aren't near as often as they used to be. 

This book helps explore, from the views of multiple women, the triggers that set us off and how to respond when they are set off.  The book had some great tips, tips that I wish I had heard or read as a younger, newer Mom.  The tip that really hit me the hardest was at the end of the book. The chapter called Surrender, stop trying and start resting. What I got out of this chapter was the idea that as a Mom there are things that I must do, extra laundry, stay up with sick kids, deal with social media and teenagers, and the list could go on and on.  The thing is, that is my job.  I can fuss and complain and get grouchy because I have to do ALL those things, or I can surrender and realize that some of those things I won't like as much as others, but I wanted to be a Mom.  I wanted to have kids to love and care for, and those things go along with the job.  When I surrender to the fact that some of the things just have to be done, I can do them without being so grumpy about them.  I can take them in stride of what the job is and not be so shocked when they come up and need to be done.  I can keep my focus on the fact that God allowed me to be a Mom and that by His grace alone I can do the best job I can raising my kids.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone in any stage of motherhood.  You will either get something out of it, or most likely know someone who would and can pass it on. Five stars for sure!

Book 38: A Perfect Fit

This book by Heather Tullis is about a family known for their five-star hotels.  This story, in the 6 book series, is mainly about Cami.  She has enjoyed heading up guest services in her hotel in Chicago, but her father has other plans for her.  Upon his death she discovers that she has 4 half sisters that she and her sister have known nothing about.  Now in order to be a part of her father's will they must live together and launch the newest resort.  In the process she meets Vince, the good looking gardener that Cami knows her father would never approve of.  With her father controlling so much of her life from the grave she is torn on whether or not to take a chance on something she can't imagine he would like. 
The books characters came to life on every page.  The book was so good, that despite the fact that I try to only read the free books I can download on my Kindle I did purchase the remaining 5 books in the series. Luckily for only $3 each!

Great read, looking forward to the rest of the series. I'd give this book 5 stars.

Book 37: Redemtion Song

 By Melodie Murray

Ethan Carter is a 17 year old pop star sensation, living the dream, and yet missing out on what the dream really is.  When he makes a decision that almost wrecks his life his mother ships him off to Alabama to rethink who he is and where he is going.  In Alabama he is forced to live with his Grandmother, who he loves dearly, and her new "grandchildren", a 10 year old boy named Ben and a 17 year old girl named Alaina. He is rude and uncaring when he first meets them, but then begins to learn what family is really all about.  In the process he also begins to learn who he really is and who he wants to be.

The book had a lot of really emotional content and needed several Kleenexes to get through it. A great story about finding redemption in a place you wouldn't expect to find it in.

I'd give this book 5 stars.

Book 36: Deep Green

Deep Green Color me Jealous (True Colors Book 2) by Melody Carlson

I downloaded this book for free and thought that it might be a good book, at least at some point, for my daughter to read. I'm not sure I'd recommend it yet as it deals with some dating issues that I don't feel at 12 she needs to be reading about yet, but I will be holding on to it for the future.

In this book Jordan is struggling with friendships and boyfriends and figuring out who are true friends and who are just trying to stay friends with you to get close to other people. She's realizing that lots of teens like to play games and how jealousy can take over your life and cause lots of problems along the way.  She also discovers that true friends are sometimes the ones that you push away from as you think you want to head a direction in your life. Yet they are also the ones that are still waiting when you realize you are headed down the wrong path.

This would be a great book to read and discuss with a teenage girl as they enter into the high school years.  Full of topics that need to be discussed, and yet done in a way that they aren't reading about things in depth.

I'd give the book 4 stars.

Book 35: Discovering Hope

Discovering Hope by Chautona Havig is my 35th book this year. I've read multiple books by this author now, and have found that I enjoy her writing style. She allows the characters to be real people, filled with struggles and dreams and wanting what is best for their friends and family.  In this book Hope, is collage student who is trying to come to terms with various life events that have happened to her.  In the process she meets Jay.  Jay has also gone through a traumatic event in his life and is also learning to live with the pieces that he has been left with.  They begin to build a friendship where he suddenly discovers that in the process of getting to know Hope he is also discovering what hope really is about.

This book was a great anytime read.  Filled with real life concepts and showing how people learn to deal with the events that occur in their lives.

I'd give this book 5 stars!

Book 34: True Love

 True Love by Destin Bays was an interesting book.

This book starts back in 326 BC when fate brings together to characters, Mikolas and Helena.  They meet and almost instantly fall in love.  Of course as the times dictate they must go through the proper stages of courtship and hopefully their love will prove true enough to marry. 

Centuries later two other people are brought together by fate.  Nickolas and Elena are instantly drawn to each other.  Their lives have brought them from different directions and now they must chose if their path will continue together.  Can hearts be connected from ages past? Can true love last a lifetime?  Only reading it will allow you to answer those questions.

I'd give this book 4 stars.

Book 33: 8 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Containers

8 Easy Vegetables to Grow in Containers by Peter Davies was full of good tips for growing a container garden.  He went over the basics for container gardening and then branched off into different veggies that would grow well. If we had decided to give gardening a try this year, I would have referred back to this book for some helpful information.

I'd give this book 4 stars.

Book 32: Summer Cooking

I guess I need to stop reading/looking at cookbooks.  I find most good ideas on Pinterest at this point, or searching online.  The cookbooks I've looked at recently are all free, so that is good as I haven't really discovered any great recipes that I want to try.

If you haven't been cooking long, or are really looking for recipes and aren't hindered by other family members tastes then this book might be a good choice for you.

I'd give it 1 star, wasn't helpful for me, but might be for you.

Book 31: Say Goodbye To Survival Mode

My goal for this year was to stop living in survival mode and actually feel like I was living.  Having order is important to me, but sometimes I get so focused on the order that I forget to enjoy the life.
 This book by Crystal Paine is a wonderful book full of tips to help you stop surviving and start living.  Life is a journey, why not enjoy it?
" My greatest hope for you is that you can escape from feeling stuck and find the freedom and fulfillment that comes from living your life on purpose" location 152

This book is so full of tips it's hard to summarize.  Here are a few of my favorite tips:

Streamline your life and cut schedule clutter so you can focus your time and energy on the things that matter most. -location 159

Create a personal priorities list and use it a as a spring-board for culling your commitments and to-do list.- location 160

Stop believing the lies that you can do it all, be it all and have it all.- location 209

In order to say yes, you must learn to say no.-location 275

If you are struggling with all the stuff you need to get done, this book is worth the money it costs and the time it takes to help you refocus on what matters and how to handle those things.

I'd give this book 10 stars, even though I'm using a 5 star scale!!!

Book 30: Easy Weeknight Dinners

Book 30 is Easy Weeknight Dinners by Dennis Weaver


I'm always looking for some new recipes to try and this book had a few good tips, but really didn't peak my interest with recipes.
The tips were, when meal planning to:
1. Choose a meat for the main dish
2. Choose a seasoning, sauce, or gravy
3. Choose a starch
4. Choose a side dish or two

Other than that, which I really already know to do, the book wasn't filled with anything that really interested me.  Someone else may find it helpful, especially a new cook, but I've been cooking for years, so it didn't provide much help for my skill set.

I'd give this book 1 star.

Books 28-29: Rick Riordan is a genius!

I can imagine that when you've created a book series after awhile you'd get tired of writing about the characters. But I must say that Rick Riordan is a genius and should keep the stories coming if he possibly can.  My kids and I started reading his Percy Jackson series quite awhile ago.  We used them as read alouds  and truly enjoyed them. (As a side note while the 2 movies that have since come out of Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief and Sea of Monsters are good on their own they are not near as good as the books, and don't really follow the books.) Anyway, after reading the Percy Jackson series we started reading the Kane Chronicles, and then also the Heroes of Olympus books.  All are great reads for kids as well as adults. 
The two books I'm reviewing in this post are The  Son of Sobek and The Staff of Serapis, both are short stories that we downloaded-and paid for, which means I really wanted to read them since usually I focus on the FREE books!

 In The Son of Sobek we get the first ever cross over of the Egyptian and Greek series.  In this book Carter Kane, from the Kane Chronicles, is trying to protect a neighborhood from something that has been terrorizing the lake near it. He isn't sure what he's facing, but armed with just his staff and his magician's bag he heads out.  In the midst of discovering what it is Percy Jackson shows up, he too is wondering what has been going on in the area.  They both are startled to find others with powers that they did not know about.  As they struggle to determine how they each could live close to each other and know nothing about each other, they also struggle to determine who the other person is and if they are a threat or an ally.  On top of it they now have a monster to fight and must decide if they can trust each other to work together to rid the neighborhood of threat.
The book was wonderful, it was a very quick read and certainly left me wishing there would be more cross over stories.

I'd give this book 5 stars!

  In the Staff of Serapis Annabeth, from the Percy Jackson series, comes in contact with Sadie from the Kane Chronicles.  This is also an exciting book that allows these characters to try to come to terms with their being other people with special powers living near each other without ever knowing it.  Their task this time is to determine who created the 3 headed monster they are facing, why it was created and how can they possibly stop it.  Will they work together and trust each other, or fight against each other.  One choice will allow them to win, one choice will cause them to fail. Which choice will they make? 
The story again was short, but definitely a good story.  With both of these books I found myself wanting the author to start a whole new series of joint effort stories.  Hopefully, he will do just that.

Great read! 5 stars!

Book 27: The Everything Pet Rabbit Handbook

These books are a bit out of the order that I read them, but considering it's been since April that I updated my reading list I suppose just getting the books typed up is something.  I really never thought we'd be rabbit owners.  I always thought they were cute, but still, they were for kids who had 4 H projects. I have absolutely nothing against 4 H, we just don't live in an area where there is a group, so honestly just never gave bunnies a second thought.  Of course, my daughter has been thinking about it for 3 years and finally convinced her Dad when we picked her up from horse camp.  Yes, they keep bunnies at horse camp so they can talk about small animal care. ( or possibly to make all the parents crazy!)
Anyway, here we are now rabbit owners and since it is the day and age that it is I turned to an ebook for information. The book I found is The Everything Pet Rabbit Handbook by Sarah Martin.

This book was very helpful. It laid out topics for before purchase, and then after purchase. It discussed food, liter box training, and where to keep your bunny. It also had links to the website for more information.

I would give this book 5 stars, as I highly recommend it for new rabbit owners.

4 Romance Books: Books 23-26

Six Months in Montana by Pamela Kelley
When Christian Ford's Grandfather died he was devastated. When he realized that he left a condition of his childhood friend Molly Bishop needing to marry him for 6 months in order for him to be given the inheritance of the ranch he was shocked.  Would she give up her life in  New York for him to keep his dream alive.  She was a successful hotel assistant manager on the verge of becoming a general manager, what would she think of moving back to Bozeman, Montana for 6 months?
Molly was about to realize her dream of being the GM of a major hotel in New York.  She'd worked long and hard for this opportunity, and suddenly the only thing standing in her way is Christian Ford's dead grandfather.  She always loved and respected him, but could she give up her life in order to help Christian put his back together. There seems to be only one right choice, yet marrying a man she hasn't seen in a long time seems like a crazy thing to do.
Is she that crazy?  You'll just have to read and find out.

I'd give this book 5 stars.



 Book 24: The Dr Pepper Prophecies by Jennifer Gilby Roberts

I try to always finish what I start reading unless it's just horrible.  This book was on the verge of being one that I almost put down.  It's not a bad story, it's more trying to figure out what the title has to do with the story, and whether or not Melanie is ever going to do something right.  It's filled with twists and turns of how crazy Melanie's life is.  She has a job she hates, and now a boss she hates, but she can't quite get another job.  Everything she tries to do so messes up, even if her intentions are good. The only thing she has going for her is her best friend Will seems to always be on her side.  Unfortunately, he's dating someone who hates her.
Can her friendship with him last through her latest bout of issues and his girlfriend?  Only reading the book will allow you to figure that out.

I'd give the book 3 stars. Not the best, not the worst. I did finish it, and was fairly happy with the ending.


Sisters in Love by Melissa Foster was book 25

I'm not posting a picture of it.  The cover I had on my Kindle was a nice winter scene with two people hugging.  The picture on Amazon makes the book look like it's going to be filled with sex.

The book itself was pretty good. Blake is the 1/2 owner of ski shop, who's life is crazy.  He's never really grown up and stopped his partying ways.  His best friend Dave, the other owner has.  He has a wife and a son and his life seems to be going great.  When talking about Blake's life he decides to take a chance and suggest that Blake start seeing a therapist.  He gives him a number, that Blake never intends on using until tragedy strikes.  Now Blake isn't sure where to turn, so he picks up the phone and ends up with Dr. Snow. Will she be able to help him?
Dr. Snow has always done just what everyone expects of her.  She is the professional always, but maybe she needs to lighten up just a little bit.  She meets an interesting man at her friends engagement party, and thinks maybe it's time to relax just a bit.  Unfortunately, the next day she isn't sure that will be a good idea as the man is now her client.  Will she be able to keep her personal feelings out of it while she tries to help him deal with his issues?

This book was good.  A little more intense then I like to read, but the story kept things interesting. 
I'd give the book 4 stars.  Probably more if they hadn't changed the cover!

Book 26: Just My Luck by Loretta Porter

 

Gabby is used to doing things on her own. She's been on her own for so long now, having help from others just seems out of the question.  She works as a school librarian and janitor at her school so she can attend for free, and make some cash on the side.  What's really annoying is all the rich kids this school. Dealing with them will soon be a think of the past though as High School graduation is almost here and she has spent years saving for the perfect trip.  It won't be a long one, but it will be worth the money it takes to have just a few days away in Nausea.  That is until things go wrong.

 

She ends up pulled out of the ocean by security and whisked off to an island.  The residents of the island, none other than the rich jock from school and his snotty sister.  Will she survive the summer now that she's run into them.

 

I'd love to write more about this book as it was a great story, full of happiness and sadness too, but I don't want to spoil it for you.  You'll need a box of tissue to make it all the way through.

 

I'd give this book 5 stars!



21 days to Loving your Husband- Book 22

Book 22: 21 Days to Loving Your Husband

by Melinda Borda and Carrie Martin-Vegue

 

 

I am beyond thankful for my husband.  We've been married almost 18 years and with the 2 years of dating we've been together at this point for 20 years.  I can't imagine life without him.  This year has been perhaps the hardest one we've had, not relationship wise, but stress wise.  We've had countless house issues, vehicle issues and our son in particular has had countless injuries this year.  It's been rough, but with God's ultimate hand of peace and love, we've weathered the storms that have been thrown at us, and drawn in many ways closer together. 

 

When I started reading this book it was mainly because I figured having more tips on how to be a better wife certainly couldn't hurt.  I'm not perfect, I get particularly fussy when things aren't in order, or going according to schedule.  I'm working on it, but I want to also work on being the best wife I can be.

 

Here are some of the tips that I found helpful to consider in finding ways to love your husband more:

 

Spend 15 minutes to freshen yourself up and relax before he comes home from work.  Use the time you're brushing your hair, fixing make up or changing into something that doesn't look like you just did a cleaning marathon to spend sometime praying for him, and for a good attitude.  If you're relaxed you are more likely to set a good tone in the household.

 

Each man is different. Discover what helps your husband unwind after work, and give him time to do that.

 

Take issues to God, not your girlfriends when they arise.

 

Watch your tone. You're not his mother, but his spouse.

 

 

There were many other great tips and suggestions and this book only took a few minutes each of the 21 days to read. 

 

I'd give the book 5 stars.



The Pastor's Wife: Book 21

The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer Ailee

This was a quick and fun read, after all the non-fiction books I've been reading.  The story revolves around the town of Granger and Pastor Nick, the senior pastor at a local church. He and his wife Maura have been separated for 6 years when one of the member's of his church passes away and through her will tries to bring the couple back together.  The will causes them to have to make some difficult decisions about things that in the end might be amazing opportunities. Will it be worth taking the risk of living in the same town again in order to take advantage of the opportunities?  Only reading the book will allow you to find out what really happened.

Great story, wonderful character development.
I'd give the book 5 stars.


Next up on my reading list:
Say Goodbye to Survival Mode by Crystal Paine

Simple Garage Organization- Create Space for Parking, Building and Storing: Book 20

Book 20: Simple Garage Organization- Create Space for Parking, Building and Storing by Angela Agranoff

 

This was one of the free books of the day on one of the many sites I get emails from.  I downloaded it, because it was about organization.  It was a quick read, with only a few chapters, but I'm glad I didn't buy it.  It may be helpful to someone who hasn't read many books about organization, but for me it was just restating things I already knew. The only new tip that I highlighted was to store potting soil in a garbage can so that it doesn't spill or create messes. I'd go further and suggest finding a garbage can, small that can be easily moved, on wheels as the actual storage container.  This would make using it so much easier.

 

 

Good for some who do not understand organization, but no real new tips for those who do. I'd give the book 1 star.

 





The Passionate Mom: Book 19

The Passionate Mom was the 19th book I read this year.  This book by Susan Merrill is filled with inspiration she gained when reading the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament.   So often we read the stories of the Old Testament and think about how they were great stories from a time long ago, but rarely do we really study them to see what we can gain from them on a personal level.  In her study of the book she discovered that we can learn a lot about parenting from Nehemiah's example. 
She discussed to begin with the question we as  Mom's ask a lot, "am I doing this right?" (location 99 in my Kindle app). This is a question that I know plagues us, often finding us feeling like a failure.  I don't remember where I read it, or who said it, but I know that I did not come up with this myself.  The saying that "God made you the Mom of these children, or this child, and while you might not be perfect, you are the perfect Mom for them". Sometimes this thought helps me get through those tough days when I feel like I'm failing on every level.

So what did Nehemiah do that helps us as parents.  According to the study she did he "perceived the situation, he pondered every task, he was driven with passion to search for solutions, he prayed for direction, he patiently waited for opportunities, he methodically prepared to take action, he maintained his purpose, he developed the plan, and he persevered through problems to the end".(location 151 in Kindle app)

Susan then goes through each of the above words in italics and explained how we can follow Nehemiah's example and become truly passionate for our kids, and thus make an impact on them and the generations that will follow.  Each chapter talks about these different areas with clarity and examples from Susan's own life that then would allow them to be implemented into the reader's life. I was impressed with her understanding of Nehemiah and her desire to help her children reach the goals she has set for them in this world that doesn't always cooperate with our way of thinking. 

I highly recommend this book for any parent who is wanting to be more passionate and more intentional in how they parent. I'd give this book 5 stars.

Divergent, Insurgent, Alliegent: Books 16-18

Book 16 Divergent by Veronica Roth

Wow!  Twice now my son has purchased books at a book fair, and then suggested that I read them.  Both times I've been hooked and can hardly stop reading.  The first series he did this with was the Hunger Games Trilogy.  Although at the time we had to wait for the final book to come out, this time he had all 3 books on his shelf by the time I decided to read them.

Honestly, both are very much alike in the main problem facing the characters is their governments and the choices that their governments are making.  Both deal with friendships, death, decisions and needing to learn from the past.  The main difference is that the killing that occurs in this book series actually seems understandable in terms of it not being kids killing kids just to survive a game.  Regardless, in both series horrible losses take place.  The characters must grow and find their own ways in many cases. 

Divergent revolves around Beatrice Prior and Four.  Two characters that have had to make the choice of which faction to belong to.  Both chose Dauntless, both started out in Abnegation.  They made their choice to leave their factions after an aptitude test and the following choosing ceremonies. From their they basically have to deny their families and start over with their faction as their family.  The problem is that for Beatrice, who takes on the name Tris when she becomes Dauntless, is that she has something else to hide. She didn't get a clear indicator during the aptitude test for which group she should be in.  Instead, she showed that 3 different factions would have been a suitable choice.  Three is an unheard of number in the tests and can only mean one thing. That she is DIVERGENT. This is a dangerous thing to be, although she doesn't know why.  As the book progresses, more things are revealed, and they lead directly into the need to keep reading the next book in the series.

Book 17 Insurgent

In this book Tris and Four have to continue to figure out what they are fighting for an against.  Who is really the enemy, and who is telling the truth.  The author did a great job of weaving in the relationships and having you grow attached to people only to find that they could not necessarily be trusted. The plot moves along so quickly, with so many twists and turns it was near impossible to stop reading for any length of time.

Will Tris and Four be able to stop the new government from making the wrong choices?  Will family loyalty win in the end, and what of the secrets they are discovering about themselves and those around them.  Will their relationship thrive or die with all the lies that must be told.  To truly get the answers you have to continue the series by reading the last book.
Book 18 Allegiant

Wow, again..wow!  I finished this book last night and wow, is about all I can say.  I did not end the way I wanted it to or even the way I expected it to, although many elements fell in to place as I should have known they would.  I don't want to write too much about it, as the whole series would be ruined if you knew the end.  So instead, I will just say that I am impressed by this writer. She knew her audience would be teens, and while there is violence she could have gone into more detail, but restrained.  The same with the physical relationship between two of the characters in particular. She again, could have been more descriptive, but with the audience she was writing for I'm glad she left things out.

Great series, leaves you thinking about what is real and what is not.  I'd highly recommend it.

15 stars...5 for each book!

Priced to Move- Book 15

 Priced to Move by Ginny Aiken

In the midst of the fairly deep thought books I'm reading I decided I needed a light hearted break.  I literally picked this book on my Kindle based on the fact that I had downloaded it back in August of 2012 and had not yet gotten to it. 

It was a pleasant surprise. The book was filled with lively characters, and mystery.  The main character Andrea is someone that you can identify easily with. She wants something different for her life and she isn't sure how to get it.  In the process of looking for it she gets, in a sense, taken over by her Aunt Weeby and her Aunt's best friend Mona.  She wants to do right by them, but sometimes they make it so difficult.  I was not at all expecting the adventure that awaited when I started the book.  Andie, as she likes to be called, is gemologist who knows her stuff. After a fast pace job in New York leaves her with an ulcer she moves back home to Louisville. What she doesn't bargin for is an even faster pace life in her home town.  This time filled with murder, and clues that she can't help but try and put together.  Will she find the answers in time, or will she be the next victim? 

I highly recommend it for it's fast pace, and colorful characters. 

I'd give this book 5 stars. 

365 Ways to Organize Everything by Emilie Barnes and Sheri Torelli

 365 Ways to Organize Everything by Emilie Barnes and Sheri Torelli

I became a fan of Emilie Barnes about 10 years ago when I read her book The 15 Minute Organizer. In that book Emilie gave great tips on how to get things organized throughout your house and life by spending 15 minutes at a time doing it.  I'd say this philosophy is one that made me realize I can accomplish things each day, as well as one I've used not only for household jobs but also for getting scrapbooks put together. It's a philosophy that I've taught as a Creative Memories consultant and one that I also shared with many Moms groups when speaking on Organization.  Knowing how much I liked her first book, I was sure this book would also be a favorite so I did purchase this one.  I believe it was a discounted price, although I can't remember what that price was.

This book, was a bit deceiving. It did have great tips.  I've highlighted many passages, some of which I'll share in a moment.  What it didn't have was a calendar with an idea for each day. Which reading the cover made me think it would.  I suppose that sounds silly, to go off of the cover and expect a tip for each day, but other books I've read with a similar title were set up that way, so I figured this would be as well.  That being said, the book was worth the read, and did have some good suggestions.

Some of them are:

"Set aside a specific time each day you can devote to planning of the household"

"When you purchase something new, something old has to go"

"View each new season as a chance to do some pruning in your closet"

"After wiping clean your wastebaskets, give the inside bottom a quick coat of floor wax. This will prevent trash from sticking to the bottom"

"When you finish a box of Kleenex, fill it with your plastic grocery bags from the market. When full, place it in your trunk"

These are just a few of the many things I did highlight.  Emilie and Sheri have a great writing style. The book was well organized, and will be useful to refer back to for the other tips that I highlighted. I would definitely recommend this book to someone just trying to figure out ways to get and stay organized.

I give this book 4.5 stars.  Might not have been set up how I thought it would be, but just the same was a great read!

How to Raise the Perfect Dog- Book 13

How to Raise the Perfect Dog by Steven Yeo

I thought this book might be interesting. We have a great dog, who is fairly well behaved. We still have to work on a few things, and I'm sure ubber trained dog owners would think she lacks many skills, but for our family she's fine. Basically the reasons I downloaded this book was for some quick tips or other ideas to use with her, and also because it was free. So glad that it was free was part of the picture. 

Yes, this book had some tips, and some ideas I hadn't thought about. It is certainly more geared for the new puppy owner than for owners of an almost 3 year old dog.  The thing that really irked me about it was the number of times it told me how Eukenuba dog food would make housebreaking easier and my dog smarter.  I'm sure the food is great, but if I wanted a Eukenuba commercial or information I would have gone to their website.

I give this book 2 stars. Some good ideas, but a FAIL when it comes to making me want to read anything else by the author for fear of what other product they are going to try and get me to buy into.

Slow Cooker Superfood Recipes - Book 12

It's one of my themes for the year I suppose, finding new tasty recipes that take less time and that my family will eat.  This book  Slow Cooker Superfood Recipes by Susan Daniels, has a few recipes that seem to fit those requirements.  Some of the ones I plan on trying include, Lip Smacking Pot Roast, Delectable Beef Stew, Mind-blowing Pepper Steak, and Finger Lickin' Beef BBQ Ribs.  With each recipe it also explains how the foods in the recipe are suppose to be good for you.

Reading this cookbook helped me think of why we eat certain foods, beyond that they appeal to the taste buds.  I'd give this book 4 stars, for presenting some tasty ideas with the philosophy behind the foods included.

Cookbook Time- Books 6-11

While some wouldn't count this as reading, it did take time to look through and determine if the recipe would be worth trying with my family, so I'm counting them as books read this year!

Book 6  Crockpot Cooking 50 No Fuss Crock Pot Recipes by M. Smith and R. King

This book had 50 recipes designed to make Crock Pot cooking more exciting. The ones I marked for my family included Cheddar Cheese Cauliflower, Cheesy Chicken, Crock Pot Corned Beef-which I plan to try in March, Crock Pot Pizza- which we tried and liked, Honey Cooked Vegetables, Mozzarella Onion Soup, Simple Meatball Dinner, and Sweet Barbecued Chicken.

I plan out my meals in advance, so I'm planning on adding these to the menu and seeing if they are ones my family will request again.  Each family has different likes when it comes to food, so while I only found 8 that I was pretty sure my family would enjoy, someone else would most likely find more. 

I'd give this book 4 stars- might turn into 5 if the recipes are a success!


Book 7

Breakfast in a Flash by Amy Clark

We are bad about breakfast.  I'm not a breakfast person, I need time to wake up and usually a cup of coffee is all I need for that first hour or so that I'm awake.  My kids are the same in many ways.  This makes it difficult to get us up, and fed and out the door for school.  I found several recipes in this book that seem like they'd be worth trying for quick, easy and somewhat portable breakfasts.

The ones I'm planning on giving a shot are: Omelet in a mug, Breakfast sandwich, Fruit and Granola Bars, Chewy Crispy Granola Bars, and Eggs on Biscuits.

The recipes did also help me focus on some other foods that would be quick and easy to take with us for breakfast. 

I'd give the book 4 stars.

Book 8 30 Nutritious Snacks by Nicole D Richards

Snacks are always an issue to keep healthy. There are so many foods out there that are somewhat easier to get to and therefore we grab and go without thinking.

The recipes I marked in this book are Bacon Stuffed Potato Skins, Parmesan and Pepper Zucchini Chips, Cheddar Cheese Biscuits, Parmesan Pita Bread, Guacamole, Classic Hummus, Bitesize Cheeseburgers, Sweet Potato Tartlets, Pumpkin Seeds and Taco Style Salad.

I'm planning on getting some of these cooked up during spring break to see if we like them, and then go from there as far as adding them into the menu for sides for lunches or snacks to have on hand.

I'd give this book 4 stars

Book 9 Eat Healthy All Through the Year by Sidney McManter

With all the books and pins on Pinterest showing Paleo recipes I though I'd give this book a try.  While I did find 4 recipes that I might consider I also learned more about the Paleo diet.  I agree that we eat to many processed fatty foods, but I'm not sure that I'm ready to go to only eating foods the ancient peoples would have eaten.  It's an interesting concept, just not where I'm at right now.

I'd give this book 4 stars- not for me, but not bad for someone into the Paleo diet concept.



Book 10 Slow Cooker 101 by Perrin Davis

This book had lots of Crock Pot tips and some great recipes that I plan on trying.  From Ultimate Mac and Cheese to Sweet Potato Pudding. I use my slow cooker a lot so having new ideas is always great.

I'd give this book 4 stars

Book 11 31 Deliciously Easy School Breakfasts Recipes and Ideas For One Month of Making the Bus On Time by Tracey Bybee

As I mentioned earlier in this post, we're not really breakfast people.  This book had 9 different recipes and ideas that I think we might try. 

Again, it's about looking for what your family already likes when finding a recipe that is new and sure to be a hit.  Some of the ideas we will be trying from this book are Potato Bacon Frittata Muffins, Biscuit Egg Sandwiches and Quick French Toast.

I give this book 4 stars.

Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free- Book 5

Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

I started this book once in 2013, and then after a few chapters set it aside and got busy reading other books.  As much as I have always enjoyed physical books, reading on my Kindle seems to be so much easier now, that it took a focused effort to work on reading this book as I borrowed it from a friend.

We are lied to by Satan. This should really shouldn't be shocking. He's been lying to us since the beginning of time, trying to get us to see half truths and bold face lies as truth.  He knows the scriptures, and wants to use bits and pieces of them to get us to doubt what we know to be true.  His goal is to render us useless, which unfortunately works on many occasions.

The topics covered are: lies we believe about God, about ourselves, about sin, about marriage, about children and about circumstances. In most of these areas I found myself agreeing that at least on occasion I have believed these lies.  The problem is, when I have I find myself struggling with some many areas.  Speaking and knowing the truth of the Word of God can make a difference.  We need to have a firm foundation and take all information we learn or hear back to the source to see if it is real or not.

I'm glad I read this book, and would suggest it to others who want to actively seek out God and His truth and His Word. 

I'd give this book 5 stars

30 Day Organizational Course- Book 4

I once again am forced to admit I'm an organizational book addict.  I suppose there are worse things you could be, so I guess this is one I can live with. Although, I'll have it be known I recently did not purchase the Better Homes and Gardens January organizational magazine, because as I flipped through it I realized I already had viewed all the ideas previously!

This book gives you a day by day job that will allow you to get your whole house organized in 30 days.  Truth be told, I did not follow each step.  What I chose to do was create a list in Cozicentral.com where as I read a tip I thought was worth it I would then add it to that list.  I don't have time each day to follow the tip for the day. Some days I have more time than others, but I have been trying to focus on prioritizing what needs done, and allowing room in each day to truly enjoy the day.  Otherwise it becomes all about rushing around.

Some of the tips I found interesting included how to organize the fridge based on the different temperature variations that your fridge has.  Not sure I'll use it, as I like the milk on the top shelf, but interesting non the less.

When you read as many organizational books as I do they begin to merge. This one was good, as I could read one little section each day and then jot notes on my list if needed.  Some of the things I jotted down are:

dust and vacuum closets
reevaluate the furniture in a room
vacuum behind couches, and the cushions more often

If you want some quick ideas this book is for you.  If you want a book you can read a little each day this book is also for you.  Don't try to do it all in 30 days though, unless you truly have time, as you will just make yourself feel bad if you don't get your job for the day done!

I'd give this book 3.5 stars.  Great resource, I just had most of the tips already accomplished.

Currently reading The Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  Decided reading 1 book at a time instead of my usual 3 or 4, might help me get it done faster!

Pride and Prejudice- Book 4

I decided back when I read the Mother Daughter Book Club books that I really should read some of the classics that I hadn't yet read.  About that time I found Pride and Prejudice free for Kindle and downloaded it. 

It took a lot of time to get into the book.  I love to read, and feel like I'm a pretty good reader, but this just took time. Not being familiar with the characters aside from Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy it was hard to figure out who was who, and who I should find likable and who I shouldn't.  The whole book really is about realizing that people form preconceived ideas about others based on social status, or what they are told. That these prejudices can make the people seem prideful in how they treat other people.  Sometimes these preconceived notions prove to be true, while other times they are discovered to be wrong.

For Elizabeth she had a lot of ideas.  Ideas of how people look, how they carry themselves, whether or not they talk to others.  What she discovered is people are not always what they seem to be, and sometimes you truly have to get to know the person directly to understand who they really are.

I'm glad I read the book, for it is a classic.  It also still reminds us today that in order to understand someone truly, we have to know them for who they really are, not who we think or have been told they might be.

I'd give the book 4 stars.

Beyond the Chore Chart- Book 3

Beyond the Chore Chart by Kimberly Eddy, was a FREE kindle book I picked up off of a daily email I get from either Money Saving Mom or Ebooks.com.  I mainly picked it up because all to often I've used a chore chart, which works for a little bit, and then find myself back to just asking for help at different times.  Usually the kids are good about helping when I ask.  They have both have homework, instruments to practice and sports or church activities so I try to look at what is going on each day and then ask them to help me with that days daily jobs.  The biggest complaint I usually hear is that one of them was asked to do more than the other one.  While at times this is true due to illness or schedule conflicts I do try to give them each the same amount of jobs.  With all of that in mind I thought perhaps I'd pick up some tips from this book.
This book did discuss the use of chore charts at different seasons of parenting, as well as different types of jobs that children can learn how to do, based on age groupings.  I liked that it also mentioned that each child is an individual and therefore a given list of what is acceptable for a certain age needs to be looked at from the perspective of your child's skill level and responsibility level.  I've read lots of books with chore suggestions  as well as lots of books that talk about not doing all the work yourself.  This is the first book that really focused on the "why" children need to do chores.  Yes, the load gets lighter when they are helping out. But if you've ever said "I'm not the maid" to your children, are you really telling the that they are?  When I've used those words, it has been from the thought of I shouldn't have to pick up for you something that you can pick up yourself, not from the perspective that I shouldn't have to do the work. Still those aren't words I'm glad I've said. Kimberly set in motion the idea of giving kids chores as a  means to raising responsible, successful adults. While I think I've always thought this in some way a light bulb for getting them to help finally went off.  My kids are pre-teen and teen age at this point. So when I stopped the last time I asked them to help and pointed out that chores aren't just to make my life easier, but so you know how to do these things when you are on your own, a mini light bulb went off for them too.  They need trained and retrained how to do things to learn the information.  Yes, maybe they will still fold towels and laundry differently when they are older, but knowing how to fold it in general will help them take care of those items better and have them last longer.  Learning how to do the laundry, clean up after themselves and manage their time are all useful benefits and life long skills that chores can help with.
I don't think I took the time I could have when they were younger. I didn't have the balance in my life that I do now.  I was out of control and over committed which made taking the time to show them how to help hard to do and so I skipped it.  I'm glad she points out that yes, it is valuable to start young but that you can start at any time.

Great book to refresh the why for kids doing chores and for gaining perspective on what and how to get them started.

I'd give this book 4.5 stars.

Balancing It All- Book 2

It is nice to find an author that you know without even cracking the cover will inspire you in some way.  Candace Cameron Bure is one of those authors.  I read her book Reshaping it All and was inspired to really think about my faith and my choices. 

Her newest book is:
Balancing It All by Candace Cameron Bure

When I first opened the book I have to admit I was hoping it would be filled with lots of info about her and her life. While it was, I'm glad she didn't share too many details.  She did use her family and her life as her examples of how she has learned to Balance It All, but at the same time she kept them private.  I don't know if that makes sense unless you read the book, which you may have to do to understand what I mean.

In her book she talks about growing up, about values and good morals being instilled in her and her siblings, despite the fact that their parents were not church goers to begin with.  Times have certainly changed. I found myself thinking about how different the generation of today is raised. That many aren't taught right from wrong, which even 30 years ago was still pretty standard, even among non church going people.  She praised her parents for how they raised her and knows that it is by their guidance that many things in her life have been the way they have been. 

She openly discusses her faith, which has gotten her into a lot of "trouble" with the media lately.  The thing that gets me is, it is her faith, if you don't like how she feels why care how she feels?  If you think she is a weak woman for being submissive, by Biblical definition, to her husband then don't follow her or model her.  I'm always surprised at how quickly people like to put others down when their ideas differ from what someone else's does.  Of course, we aren't allowed to be upset by those opinions.  Double standard anyone?

Sorry for the rampage. 

I enjoyed how she pointed out that she isn't perfect and that she doesn't have it all together even still.  Yet, that she strives to find a balance and how she feels God is calling her to do that.  It isn't an easy thing to do, and with being in the public eye this is a way God is using her to share her faith and her love for Him.  She shared lots of good ideas about what works for her, and I truly enjoyed reading the book.  She has helped me once again to refocus on how to continue to raise my children Biblically, put my husband first and to be submissive to him as head of the household.  She also helped me to remember that there are seasons in our lives. It is during those seasons that we must decide what the right balance is for us, and that it is just that, for us.  Each of us can handle different amounts and different times, and we need to turn to God to see what he is calling us to do.  Yes, reading her ideas are interesting and give us some thoughts to ponder. Yet if I read her book and started doing everything she does, I certainly wouldn't be able to stay in balance.

It was a good book. I did buy this one, I think it was $6.99 on Kindle, I couldn't find it in any of my local stores.  It was worth the cost and the time it took to read it. I'd give it 5 stars.

Things My Grandmother Taught Me About Organized Living-Book 1

2014 is here, which means it's time to start a new list of books.  I'm in the middle of reading several.  So far though I've finished two, here's the first of those.

Things My Grandmother Taught Me About Organized Living  Gloria Barry
I downloaded this book for FREE shortly after the start of the new year.  It's a extremely quick read with only 7 chapters.  It starts off talking about the author's grandmother and how she loved spending time with her, and some of the basic things she enjoyed about her.  From there it launches into the lessons learned.  From keeping a routine, to making sure that you take time to eat.  Most of her advice is straight forward and stuff we really already know, but forget to follow in this day and age when the pace of life seems to need to move so quickly.  I'm partial to routines, so being reminded again that keeping routines helps keep your mind and body to know what is next was great.  When you do the same thing in the morning your body and mind begin to wake up, when you do the same thing at night your mind and body begin to wind down.  It makes sense, and perhaps we laugh some when we think of how routine older people seem to be, but it really does help.  It was also a good reminder of how much excess in many ways we have in our lives. 

I found this book to be helpful in reminding me of things I already know.  It was worth the time it took to read it so I would give it 4 stars.  I would not have been drawn to buy it, but since I got it for Free it was a good deal!

I am also currently reading:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Beyond the Chore Chart by Kimberly Eddy
30 Day Organizational Course by Ben Night
Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh Demoss
and the Teen version of the above book with my daughter