#Review: Beware the Sheep by M. Lewis-Lerman

When illness strikes her best friend and a maniacal underground ruler wants to destroy all that is ‘different’, 16 year old Livi Dixon must lead -- not because of her bravery or abilities -- but out of necessity and fear.

With the hope of a cure, Livi makes a reckless gamble that just may save her friend -- but at what cost?

With her new allies (a strange and sundry group of outsiders including a handsome escaped prisoner and a kind but secretive old man), Livi sets off on a race against time, looking deep within herself in order to defeat a faceless enemy and (just maybe) manage to save her best friend in the process.

Livi's strength is tested, her character revealed, as an attempt to save one life turns into a quest to protect thousands. But is she enough to stop the shapeless evil sinking its teeth into the ones she loves? And in the end, will it even matter?

#NaBloPoMo #septemberchallenge 3 - Lessons

 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

What is/was your favourite thing to pack for school lunch?

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OK.  Like I can remember back that far.  Literally, the only thing I can remember about school lunch (from my own school days) is when they started to have a 'salad bar' option in high school.

Our two sons spent at least a year or two in public school before we started homeschooling them, and our daughter has always been homeschooled.  About the only thing I remember from the school lunches, etc., for the boys was the hubbub about 'pink slime' - which is I suppose whatever they tried to pass off as ground beef.

But why should the subject of school lunch be any less political than the rest of public education?

• When I started grade school, children brought home-baked cakes or cupcakes to school for their class on their birthdays.  Do that these days and CPS (Child Protective Services) will show up at your door.
• Peanut butter and jelly was a perfectly acceptable option for sack lunches.  These days, schools actively discourage these because some children have virulent nut allergies.  (OK.  I can see that one.)
• My high school had rows of soda machines and a 'snack bar' with potato chips and candy bars.  It brought in income for the school.  These days, you'd probably be lucky to find anything like that.

And since this post is shorter than normal for me, I'm going to allow myself a wee 'school rant'.

No, not a "I used to walk uphill to school both ways in the snow" kind of thing.  (Although, I did walk to school in sandals one day and walked the mile and a quarter home in two feet of snow.)  Bear with me, please.

Is it me, or do schools seem more and more intent these days on turning out good little Stepford citizens than on developing the intellects and creativity of the students over whom they have charge?  These students' scores are lower in math and engineering than those in another country, so lets take away their art and music instruction, and recess, so they can concentrate on academics.

I'm not knocking math.  I liked math.  (Yes, I was weird that way.)  I was good at it.  In college I tutored other students in their various math subjects.

But I don't think the way to provide a 'better life' to someone is by taking away some of the very things that make life worth living!

And, again, I'm not knocking teachers.  I think there ought to be a line item in the application for sainthood that gives extra credit to anyone with teaching experience.

I'm knocking the treating students, especially in the younger years as pint-sized 'future employable units'.  They are children.  Let them be children.  Let them run and play and fingerpaint in addition to the "3 R's" (reading, writing and 'rithmatic - 3 words that start with the "r" sound).  That is the way to foster a life-long love of learning.

I could go on (believe me, I could).  But I'll stop there.  For now.

As for our 'school lunches' on our homeschool days?  They look a lot like our lunches on our non-school days.  So if you happen to be visiting and survived the rant above, maybe give me suggestions for new lunches to try?

Thanks for visiting.  Have a great day!  Learn something new. ;)

#bookreview: Defiance by G.G. Vandagriff

As Hitler’s armies overrun France, Rudolf von Schoenenburg, a young Austrian baron, is living in exile in England. Though his true love, Hannah, is engaged to another man, Rudi and Hannah risk their lives together to help rescue thousands of British Troops from Dunkirk. Their powerful love story develops against the backdrop of the Battle of Britain and an old world being blown to pieces. 

Rudi’s family and friends suffer under the nightly barrage of bombs and rockets of the London Blitz while he pilots a British fighter plane in what looks like an impossible defense of the small island. Each night is a desperate fight for survival, each dawn a miracle.

While Hannah spends her days and nights helping to provide early warning of German air attacks, she realizes that every hour of every day is precious. Each moment carries the threat of sudden death. As the world around her changes, should Hannah allow her passion for Rudi to overcome promises she made to her dying father in what seems like another lifetime?

#septemberchallenge #NaBloPoMo 2 - Lessons

  

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

What are some of your best tips for getting your day off to a good start?

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My "X" Best Morning Hacks

1.  Power down well before bedtime the night before.  That means as little electronic stimuli as possible.  Phones, televisions, computers.  (I know, just thinking about this is raising my blood pressure!)  Get enough sleep.

2.  Lay out your outfit for the next day.  This saves you from staring bleary-eyed at the closet in the morning, trying to decide what to wear for the day.  If you fix lunches for family members, get as much together the night before as possible.

3.  Spend some time alone with your thoughts.  Waking up to chaos is jarring.  Having some quiet time, without having to respond to the needs or wants of others (even those we love and would do anything for) is necessary to develop your battle plan for the day.

4.  Read something inspirational.  Whether you are religious and read a spiritual text, or something that stirs or comforts you, it's all good.  It's a little 'fuel booster' for your personal gas tank first thing in the morning.

5.  Do something physical.  Walk, garden, play with your dog in the yard.  Think of your body as your transportation.  If you want to go places during your day, you want your vehicle to be in as good a shape as possible.

6.  Eat a nourishing first meal.  For me, that means something other than sugared cereal (which I love - I have a HUGE sweet tooth).

7.  Get the crud out.  In The Artist's Way, Julia Cameron suggest writing "morning pages" long hand.  Four pages of uncensored, hand-written stream-of-conciousness writing.  So if your spouse said something hurtful the day before, put it down.  If your child took his or her first step, and you think they are the best thing since someone decided to slice bread, put it down.  Good, bad, ugly - it doesn't matter.  Get the pebble out of your shoe before you begin the race.

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Do any of these resonate with you?  Tell me one of your 'get up and go' tips in the comments.  I need all the help I can get!

#ReleaseBlitz: Uneasy in New Orleans by Carol Carson

It’s a Big Easy Mystery with Uneasy In New Orleans

UNEASY IN NEW ORLEANS has everything you love about the French Quarter, delicious food, sexy men, mystery, gossip, trouble, and dead bodies…Well maybe not all of what people love about the city. However Finnigan Jones is dealing with all of these things and more. UNEASY IN NEW ORLEANS is the first in a new series called the Big Easy Mysteries from multi-published author Carol Carson.

To learn more about Carol Carson and her books check out her new website!

Giveaway:

Grand Prize: 2 Winners Will Receive 2 $35 gift card to Amazon or B&N

About UNEASY IN NEW ORLEANS 

FINNIGAN JONES HAS A PASSION FOR COOKING AND A PENCHANT FOR TROUBLE.

Dead bodies aren’t on Finn’s New Orleans walking tour of cemeteries and haunted houses. Ditto disappearing bodies. Now she has to explain to Detective Jack Boyle how her missing corpse has turned up in the Mississippi putting her smack-dab in the middle of a murder investigation.

Unfortunately, another of Finn’s odd jobs is taking questionable photos for Jack’s PI brother, Tommy. After she snaps shots of a dubious pair of lovebirds, they stalk her, then kidnap her. Now Finn’s dealing with two lunatics intent on killing her. Or driving her crazy. She’s not sure which.

Because lunatics and smokin’-hot brothers aren’t enough trouble, she’s gossiping, yes gossiping, with a chef ghost at culinary school, cat-sitting her aunt’s six felines and attempting to corral her wayward teenage sister.

All Finn wants is to survive school and become the best chef in the world.

FINN’S LIFE IS ABOUT TO GET EVEN MORE COMPLICATED.

On Sale in Digital Now:

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

Add UNEASY IN NEW ORLEANS to your TBR pile on Goodreads!

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Author Bio:

Multi-published author Carol Carson was born and raised in central Iowa. She is a former finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart contest and is an avid bookworm who actually enjoys doing research. Her other passions include travel, American history, the Kansas City Chiefs, the St. Louis Cardinals and dark chocolate. She has lived in Colorado and Kansas, and currently lives with her husband in a log home on the outskirts of St. Louis, Missouri. Write to her at carol.carson@centurytel.net.

Connect with Carol: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

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Excerpt 3

She heard a faint noise. She wasn't alone. A tall stranger whose face looked familiar came toward her, his strides long and deliberate. "You the one takin’ pictures of me?"

"No," she automatically lied.

His tone left little doubt about how he felt about her. ‘Dislike’ would be too kind.

‘Outraged and highly motivated to harm her’ seemed more likely. Which was when she remembered why he looked familiar. Franco, the wandering husband she'd photographed last night in all his pants-around-his-ankles glory. It took a nano-second to register the thought that he shouldn't have known where to find her before extreme terror kicked in.

Closer to the stairs than Tommy's office, Finn managed to dash past him in her rarely-worn heels.

He grabbed at her but she ducked. She reached the outer door and twisted the doorknob. He yanked her from behind, and pulled her toward him. A nasty blast of stale breath hit her in the face. The knob slipped from her sweaty hand. She wrenched her backpack off and screamed. She swung it and connected with his head. He grunted and lost his grasp on her.

Finn took advantage of the moment and wrenched open the door. She scrambled out to the landing. With one foot on the first step, he jerked her by the back of her sweater. She screamed bloody murder again and swung around to hit him.

Tommy appeared and yanked Franco up, smashing him in the jaw. The man stood in the tiny space swaying. Finn took advantage. She swung her backpack. This time, Franco sidestepped. And she hit Tommy full force.

He lost his balance, arms cartwheeling in the air as he reached for the rail. He missed and tumbled down the steps, crashing against each riser with a horrible thump until he lay crumpled at the bottom. Franco raced down the stairs, hurtled over Tommy's prone body, then disappeared up the dark alley.

Finn flew down the steps, her backpack forgotten. Tommy lay at the bottom, his eyes closed, his jaw clenched.

She knelt by his side, her breath jerking in and out. She patted his cheek, and prayed he wasn't dead. She couldn't take two dead bodies in one day, no matter how insensitive it sounded.

He opened one eye and squinted at her, his face pinched. "Hell, I, I broke my...damn it all to hell...my damned leg."

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MY REVIEW

Part talent on the part of the author, Carol Carson, part N'awlins mystique, Uneasy in New Orleans is ALL GOOD!  I've been reviewing books 'officially' now for going on two years, and on a handful of occasions, just holding a book in my hands (or, in this case, opening the MOBI file), I knew I was in for an entertaining read.  Such was the case with this book.

I didn't find a voodoo doll of myself with a little copy of this book tied into my hands, but I'm a huge fan of this story nonetheless.  Finn was not so lucky.  She found one resembling herself at the scene of a missing body, complete with pins and a little noose around her neck.  Given the fact that she was knocked out from behind while approaching the yet-to-be-missing corpse, things are not looking good for our intrepid heroine.  Although, I must say, when the real reason for the doll was revealed, it as quite amusing.

Finn's life is beyond complicated.  She has two jobs:  French Quarter tour guide by day, photographer for a PI by night.  She is going to cooking school.  She pet sits 6 cats when her aunt goes on cruises looking for husband #4 (was it?).  Her 17 year old sister winds up on her doorstep after being kicked out by Mom and Dad.  And she's busy 'not falling in love' with Tommy (the PI) and his police detective brother Jack.

Some lessons I learned from reading this book:

1.  Do not discuss potentially embarrassing personal business in horse-drawn carriages.

2.  If you are going to take pictures for a PI, make a duplicate of the data on a thumb drive and hide it in a separate location.

3.  If your cooking school classmate turns up the crazy, and attempts to flambe the school, stay away from her!

Uneasy in New Orleans is a cozy mystery feast for the senses.  Take a big dose of this series, with a beignet and leave me a comment in the morning.

#NaBloPoMo #septemberchallenge 1 Lessons

  

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

It's back-to-school time: do you love the start of school or dread it?

When I was in school, I don't recall being either especially looking forward to or dreading the start of the school year.  It was a nice change over having to entertain ourselves.  And while I was a good student, I know I did not fully appreciate the chances I had at the time.

#Review: Honor Among Thieves by J.M. Aucoin

France, March 1609. The French Wars of Religion are over, but forces still conspire against the crown…

Darion Delerue, former soldier turned highwayman, has only two things of value—the hope in his heart and the steel at his side. After a heist on a royal ambassador goes wrong, Darion is thrown into a political plot to undermine the crown, pitting his old life as an honorable soldier against his new life as a thief and bandit. His actions could send France back into civil war.

Honor Among Thieves is a gripping tale of daring sword-play and political intrigue, with superb historical detail of 17th Century France that will have readers wanting to draw their swords and fight for glory!