Children's Book Review: Stormin Norman the Soggy Doggy By Andy Allen

STORMIN NORMAN
THE SOGGY DOGGY

By: Andy Allen

Illustrated By: Brian Barber

Published: November 7, 2011

Publisher: Beavers Pond Press


I met author, Andy Allen at author event I attended a few weeks ago. You can read more about that event, HERE. We had a great chat and I really love his fabulous children's book.

Andy Allen wrote this book after his experience with his own dog during the Flood of 2008 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The floods were devastating to that city as well as many other towns in Iowa. He has taken this experience with his own dog and made it into a wonderful children's book that can be enjoyed by the whole family.

On the first sunny day after many days of rain, Andy and Norm went out for a walk. Their walk along the trail took them near a stream that was abnormally high after all the rain. Norm spied a stick in the water. Like any normal dog would, Norm went after the stick and ended up in the stream. Will Andy be able to save him?

This story shows the love between an owner and his pet. It shows how a normal day can turn into something quite unexpected. Most of all, it teaches a lesson about the danger of high waters. After reading it with your child, you can have a conversation about how important it is to stay away from flooded water.

Each page is written in rhyming scheme and makes it fun and lyrical. But, what I really love about the book is the illustrations. In my conversation with the author, he shared his pride in the pictures and how they depict the true feelings of Andy and Norm, as well as the beautiful Iowa landscape. Even the fish in the stream have expressions.

I am excited to say that there is more to come from Andy and Norm. Another book will be making its way onto bookshelves in the next few months. Stay tuned as I am planning to review Andy Allen's next adventure with Norm.

Andy Allen will forever be an Iowan at heart. He holds a B.S. in psychology and a Master’s Degree in early childhood education. Andy has been an elementary school teacher for nine years.  When he is not composing new rhymes for his Norm stories, Andy coaches basketball and enjoys a good crossword puzzle. He lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife Mary, two cats, Mila and Oscar and two dogs, Simon and of course Norman. For more on Andy Allen and his adventures with Norman, check out www.andyandnorm.com. You can also find Andy and Norm on Facebook, HERE. 

If you would like to purchase a copy of this book, click the photo below:

I will be linking this review up on Booking Mama's Kid Konnection. Every Saturday, you can find other great reviews of children's and YA books from other bloggers. Click HERE, to see all the Kid Konnection posts.

Product Review: Nut Milk Bag

I had the opportunity to review Everyday Kitchen Essentials Nut Milk Bag.

I have to admit, I had never heard
of a Nut Milk Bag before.

I have purchased almond milk, but never once thought of making my own almond milk.

But, now I can say that I have done just that, and it is delicious! 

The Nut Milk Bag

is a strong nylon mesh bag.
It comes packaged in a plastic wrapper so it is protected.
Once you open the bag, I recommend rinsing it out before use.
This Nut Milk Bag

can be purchased on Amazon, HERE,

for around $8 and can be used many times over. 

For my review, I decided to go ahead and try making my own almond milk using raw almonds I already had in my pantry.  You can get the recipe to make your own almond milk by going to the website provided with your Nut Milk Bag.

First I had to soak the almonds overnight. 

I used 2 cups of almonds and just enough water to cover them in the bowl.

I covered the bowl lightly with a paper towel 

just to make sure a gnat or something didn't decided to join the almonds for a swim.

The next morning I took half the almonds and 

placed them in my blender with 4 cups of water 

and a couple tablespoons of pure maple syrup for a sweetener.

You can use other syrups or sweeteners, this was just what I had on hand.

I then blended it on the highest setting for 5 minutes.

While the nuts were blending, I placed the Nut Milk Bag

in a large mixing bowl. 

I slowly poured the blended nuts into the mesh bag.

As you can see there was a foam on the top of the mixture

and pieces of nut shell in the milk.

This is where the Nut Milk Bag

becomes important to this process.

As I began to squeeze out the milk in the bag,

all the pieces of the nut shells stayed in the bag,

while the good, creamy milk went into the bowl.

What was left in the bag was a nut paste, kind of like 

that moon sand stuff that kids like to play with.

Then, I started the process over again for the second cup of almonds.

Once I finished I had just a little over 8 cups of almond milk.

I placed a lid over the bowl and set it in the fridge to chill.

Then I started the clean up process.
Aside from setting the blender pitcher in the dishwasher,

I just had to wash and rinse out the Nut Milk Bag.

I wasn't sure how quickly this process would go,

but I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to clean up.

This entire process of making the almond milk and cleaning up took just 30 minutes.

Frankly, it takes me longer to drive to the grocery store to buy almond milk, 

than it did for me to actually make it.

The bag cleaned up really quickly 

and I just propped it in my dish drainer to dry for the day.

Later that day I took my first sip of almond milk.

It. Was. Amazing.

It was creamy, with just a hint of sweetness.

I could drink it just by itself with a meal.

Really delicious.

Other uses for the Nut Milk Bag

include straining quinoa before cooking, 

straining juices when canning or making broth, 

and making yogurts or cheeses.

If you normally use a cheese cloth for straining, I highly recommend

using the Everyday Kitchen Essentials Nut Milk Bag

for ease of use, durability and quick cleaning.

To purchase your own Nut Milk Bag, click the photo below:

Thanks to Everyday Kitchen Essentials for sending this product for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way for this review. If you choose to purchase this product through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thank you for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Book Review: Crazy is Normal By Lloyd Lofthouse

CRAZY IS NORMAL

By: Lloyd Lofthouse

Published: June 14, 2014

Publisher: Three Clover Press

Non-Fiction/Memoir

I'm participating in the book tour for CRAZY IS NORMAL with Virtual Author Book Tours. After teaching for twenty years, Lofthouse decided to keep a journal sharing the ups and downs of teaching freshman English and journalism. He kept this journal during the school year of 1994-1995. Twenty years later in 2014, his experiences teaching in the California public school system are still seen in classrooms all over the country today.

CRAZY IS NORMAL is a great way to describe the setting in his classrooms. It was rare to have an entire class that listened, did their work, and followed through on their homework. The bright light in his day was his time with his journalism students. These students were motivated to work, intelligent, and made him laugh, unlike most of his freshman English students.

Nogales High School in La Puente, CA is located in a prime gang community. Drive-by shootings and acts of vandalism occurred on a regular basis. Mr. Lofthouse had to work with students from the gang community that didn't care about school, to students who had a second-grade reading level and were continually given a passing grade, to students who truly wanted to learn and do their best to succeed. These different groups of students brought daily challenges which the author shares through his weekly journal notes. The reader will be able to feel frustrated right along with the author as he sends the same students again and again to what he calls BIC, which is basically an in-school suspension. It became quite monotonous to read the same type of situations day in and day out, but it was reality for Mr. Lofthouse.

Because this book basically consists of journal entries, there is little plot or story construction. As you read through the year, you read about the same students and you want to know how the school year ends for them, good or bad.  But there is little to draw you in and keep you reading. I was uncomfortable with his attraction to his "star journalism student", Amanda. Even though he was attracted to her, I believe it was inappropriate for him to write about it, although, thankfully, he didn't act on his feelings. I appreciated that he made sure he wasn't in a situation with a student that could have caused concern, such as being alone in a room with a female student. But, it still made me cringe. I also took offense to his frustration with substitute teachers. As a substitute teacher, I take my job seriously and do my best to carry out the plans left by the teacher. I would much rather teach something than sit and read all day. Not all subs are in the classroom to have a good time or mess up the teacher's plans as he discussed. Some of us really care about the students and their learning.

His frustrations with teaching, his feelings of burnout, and annoyance with out-of-touch administrators are common themes in schools today. Fellow teachers will empathize with Mr. Lofthouse and respect his convictions to teach students the proper way to read and write.

The following video is an interview with the author, Lloyd Lofthouse. In the interview he gives his opinion on how his book, based on a year in his classroom in 1994, is worth reading today, even twenty years later. He also shares his opinion on No Child Left Behind and the solution to education reform today. I have to say that I actually agree with his solution. The importance of reading to your children at the beginning of their life and continuing to reinforce the values of reading will have a substantial impact on your child's educational future.







If you would like to purchase a copy of CRAZY IS NORMAL, you can click the photo below. Through November 15, the book is only $.99 on Kindle.

There are several other blogs participating in the book tour for CRAZY IS NORMAL. To read interviews with the author, see other reviews and even enter to win copies of the book, click on the blogs below. 

Crazy Is Normal Web Tour Schedule

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct. 1 Review & Giveaway

Inspire to Read Oct. 2  Guest Post & Excerpt

Cassandra M's Place Oct. 6 Review & Giveaway

Pinky's Favorite Reads Interview & Excerpt

Dr Bill's Book Bazaar Oct. 8 Review                                          

Being Tillys Mummy Oct 9 Guest Post & Excerpt

Unselfish Oct 13 Review                                               

Back Porchervations Oct 14 Review, Interview, & Excerpt

Sincerely Stacie Oct. 15 Review                                               

Heck Of A Bunch Oct. 17 Review & Giveaway

Books, Books & More Books Oct 21 Review                                        

Rockin' Book Reviews Oct 22 Review, Interview, and  Excerpt

The Book Binder's Daughter Oct. 23 Review & Interview

The News in Books Oct. 29 Review & Guest Post

M. Denise Costello Oct. 30 Review & Excerpt

She Treads Softly Nov. 3 Review                                              

CelticLady's Reviews Nov 4 Review                                          

My Devotional Thoughts            Nov. 5 Review & Excerpt

Manic Mama of 2 Nov. 6 Review & Excerpt

Deal Sharing Aunt Nov 7 Review, Interview, & Excerpt

What U Talking Bout Willis? Nov 10 Review & Excerpt

From Isi Nov 11 Review

Lloyd Lofthouse

Little did Lloyd Lofthouse know in 1999, when he married Anchee Min, that he was beginning a journey of discovery. His first trip to The Middle Kingdom was on the honeymoon with his bride, who introduced him to China and Robert Hart (1835-1911), the main characters in Lloyd’s first two novels, My Splendid Concubine andOur Hart. The next decade was a journey of discovery. Lloyd now lives near San Francisco with his wife–with a second home in Shanghai, China.

Lloyd earned a BA in journalism in 1973 after fighting in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine. While working days as an English teacher, he enjoyed a second job as a maitre d’ in a multimillion-dollar nightclub. His short story, A Night at the ‘Well of Purity’ was named as a finalist for the 2007 Chicago Literary Awards.

Lloyd has won 15 awards for My Splendid Concubine and 5 awards for Running With the Enemy.

Website: http://lloydlofthouse.org/
Author’s Den: http://www.authorsden.com/lloydlofthouse

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lflwriter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lloyd-Lofthouse/168775989838050

Thanks to Virtual Author Book Tours for providing me a copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

A Reluctant Reader No Longer

As a substitute teacher, I come in and do my job and leave. Even though I know most of the kids and am able to keep track of their school progress and social life, I feel like I really don't make much of an impact. I basically check in, do my job, and go home.

A few years ago, I was a long-term sub for a teacher that worked with kids who needed extra help with their reading. They were all what I would call "reluctant readers" and it was a daily struggle to get them to do their daily reading.

source

There was one student in particular, who I knew had the ability to read but wasn't doing it. After talking with him I found that he couldn't find any books that were interesting to him. So, I talked to him about finding a book on a subject he is interested. I remember he mentioned he liked dragons and fantasy type of books but there weren't a lot of books like that at the school, especially at his reading level. He didn't want to read about sports or vampires or romances.

That afternoon, as soon as school got out, I went to our local library and started looking for some books I thought this student might like and ones that were in his reading level. Luckily, I found a series of books (I can't remember now what series it was) that I thought he might like. I checked out the first book in that series and took it to school the next day.

He came back to me just a couple days later with the book finished and anxiously wanting the next book.  So, I went and checked out the next book for him.  This pattern followed as we moved through the series. Because he was a middle school student, he wasn't able to get to the library himself. So, as I finished out that school year with him, I continued to check out books for him that I thought he would like.

source

Fast forward to this student now being a junior in high school. I was subbing the other day and this same student was in my class. As soon as his work was done, I noticed he was reading. Since we are a 1:1 school, usually a student is doing something on their iPad during their down time. But, I was surprised to see this student reading. I went over to see what he was reading and it was a Rick Riordan novel, no surprise. I told him I was so glad to see that he was reading, by choice. I told him it made me happy.Then he said the one thing that made tears come to my eyes. 

He told me he now LOVES to read. 

Because I showed him back in middle school 

that there were books 

he could read and be interested in. 

He now LOVES to read.

This made my day. Heck it made my week! The fact that this student is no longer a reluctant reader, but one that can't read books fast enough. That is what reading is supposed to be about. Finding a genre you love, being eager to move through the story, and then moving on to the next one.

If your child is a reluctant reader, try to find books that are in a level they can understand. If your child is in school, their teacher should know their AR book level or some other testing level that can guide you when finding an appropriate book. Once you have their level, start asking what they might like to read about...

• Sports: football, basketball, soccer, baseball, cheerleading
• Friendships
• Dragons
• Vampires
• Ghosts
• Families
• Baking
• School
• History: Civil War, WWI, WWII, Pioneer
• Non-Fiction: places, animals, people

There is truly a book for everyone if you can just find a starting point. One book will lead you to another either through the author or subject. Sites like goodreads and Amazon will lead you to books you might like if you liked a particular book. Keep trying. Don't give up. Like I told one of my students in that same middle school class, even if you read the sports page of the newspaper, you are reading. Find something you are interested in and read it.

Book Review: The Last Breath By Kimberly Belle

 THE LAST BREATH

By: Kimberly Belle

Published: September 30, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin MIRA

Fiction/Women's Fiction




Kimberly Belle packs a punch with a gripping prologue and keeps you turning the pages, assessing your beliefs and leaving you holding your breath all the way to the end. This is Belle's debut novel and hopefully more are to come.

The book begins with the murder of Ella Mae in a small Appalachian community. We know that Ella Mae knew her murderer, but is the murderer the man who spent sixteen years in prison for the crime? Gia, Ella Mae's step-daughter, has spent her adult life traveling the country assisting with disasters, feeding the hungry, and doing everything she can to stay away from her home full of bad memories. After being gone since high school, she must now come home to care for her father Ray, the murderer. He has been released from prison to live out his final days at home with hospice. Gia is thrown into chaos with a father she hasn't seen since he was taken to prison, two siblings who want nothing to do with their father, a street full of protesters, and a nagging doubt about her father committing the crime the entire community thinks he did.

As Gia returns to the home Ella Mae was murdered in, a slew of emotions surface. Her siblings refuse to answer her calls and run out the back doors of their office. Her uncle, Cal, who is also her father's lawyer, continues to fill her with lies about the case and the local bartender's food (and sex appeal) are too hard to resist after living in third-world countries.  Gia begins to unravel memories that were long buried and starts to piece together the night that Ella Mae was murdered. When she finds out the truth about Ella Mae's murderer, it may be more than she can handle.

This is definitely a page turner and one that will keep you guessing all the way to the end. There were several occasions where I was sure I knew who the murderer was and then my opinions were abruptly changed, only to be changed again a few chapters later. There is plenty of family drama and secrets to keep the reader interested and eager to start the next chapter. I'm sure you will be on the edge of your seat in the final chapters.

Along with the telling of Gia's story, we are taken back to Ella Mae's final days. We learn some of Ella Mae's secrets and are given more insight into who may have been Ella Mae's murderer. You will wish there had been a different outcome for Ella Mae. Her choices in life, as well as her murder, left ripple effects on her family and the whole community.

Each character in the story has their own personality and is vividly portrayed. From Ray, suffering through his final days, to Fannie, his spunky hospice nurse, Belle shows she can paint each scene with dramatic details.

The only negative about this book was the explicit sex scenes. Sometimes I prefer to leave these pieces of the story to the imagination rather than read the passionate details. Everything else about the book held my attention including the emotions Gia and Jake experienced as well as her siblings. Ultimately, this story is about betrayal and the importance of forgiveness, both for the living and the dying.

Kimberly Belle - source

Kimberly S. Belle grew up in Eastern Tennessee, in a small town nestled in the foothills of the Appalachians. Her four years at Agnes Scott College in Atlanta were a quick pit stop on her quest to see the world. After a bit of wandering she landed in the Netherlands, where she lived among the windmills and tulips for more than a decade. But the draw of Dixie was too strong. Kimberly returned and put down roots - permanent ones this time - in Atlanta, though she always makes sure to keep her passport current. Belle is currently working on two more novels. For more information, you can check out her website, HERE. You can also find her on Twitter, HERE and Facebook, HERE. 

To purchase a copy of THE LAST BREATH, click the photo below:

Thanks to Harlequin MIRA for sending me a copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase the book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Book Review: Prescription for Life By Richard Furman

PRESCRIPTION FOR LIFE
Three Simple Strategies to Live Younger Longer

By: Richard Furman, MD

Published: October 7, 2014

Publisher: Revell

Non-Fiction



Dr. Furman has spent 30 years fixing clogged arteries as a vascular surgeon. He knows what has clogged the thousands of arteries and watched patients leave his hospital only to consume the same foods that caused the patient to end up in his operating room. In his book, PRESCRIPTION FOR LIFE, he completely lays out his plan for your best life. He gives you the foods to eat and not eat. He gives you an exercise plan for even those who are currently couch potatoes. Then he offers the drastic news of what will happen if you don't follow these steps. He doesn't mince words and tells you this plan won't be easy, but is necessary for living a longer, healthy life.

When I am reading books like this, I want a straight-forward approach.  I don't want the author to be wishy-washy and leave room for judgment.  I don't want the book to be bogged down in medical terminology or studies. I want the author to convince me, whole-heartedly that this is what I should do and give me ways to make it happen.  Richard Furman does exactly that. Reading this book will scare you, shock you, and make you realize what you are putting in your body, no matter what age you are, really does make a difference.

Richard Furman began this plan at the age of 42. I read this book at the age of 42. It is never too late to make a change in your life. The parts of the plan that were helpful for me included his basic explanation for reading nutrition labels and what exactly to look for in the food you are buying. I also appreciated that Dr. Furman gave examples of people who were either his patients or just his friends and how the plan changed their life. In contrast, he gave examples of people who were given the plan and didn't follow it.

Richard Furman lays out the six foods you must remove, not cut back on, but remove from your diet right now. These six foods are guaranteed to be foods you eat on a regular basis. I would bet that the one food he insists you give up is one you eat nearly every single day. In fact, this one food was his absolute favorite food. One he was given as gifts from his co-workers and patients. Once he realized what this one food was doing to his arteries, he stopped eating it and it was his absolute favorite food. He doesn't just tell you to remove the foods, but explains, in lay-man's terms, why you should remove them from your diet and what they do to your body. This part of the book was an eye-opener for me. He explains why you need to stop them cold-turkey and not just eat them once in a while. Dr. Furman offers his ten minute plan as a way to give up things like smoking, snacking, and giving up certain food items.

This book opens your eyes to the food you eat, the lifestyle you live, and the future you deserve. His patients that followed his plan, as well as those who didn't, give great examples of his program. This "prescription for life" isn't for just the overweight or obese, or for those with heart problems, diabetes or cancer. This plan is for everyone including the physically fit. He gave one example of a man who was very active as a coach, running and lifting weights every single day. But, because of the food this coach was eating, he was a walking heart attack waiting to happen. Thankfully, he took Furman's advice with amazing results.

It is never too late to begin this plan to be healthy and active. You deserve to live a long life and a quality life. The author doesn't stop here in his "prescription for life". He wants your soul to live on into eternity. As you read, the author shares Bible verses and guidance to make sure, once death comes, that you are living out your life in eternity.

If you are concerned about the health of a friend or loved one or if you want to enhance the years you have left on this Earth, then I highly recommend you read this book and start the plan. It certainly won't be easy, but the results will be worth it.

The proceeds from this book will be donated to Samaritan's Purse for World Medical Mission to help build housing for doctors serving at mission hospitals abroad.

Richard Furman, MD

Richard Furman, MD, FACS, spent over thirty years as a vascular surgeon. He is passionate about helping people prevent the problems that kill over half of all Americans. Furman is past president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, past president of the North Carolina Surgical Society, and a two-term governor of the American College of Surgeons. He is cofounder of World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan's Purse, and is a member of the board of Samaritan's Purse. He lives in North Carolina. For more, visit his website, http://www.prescriptionforlife.com/.


To purchase a copy of this book, click the photo below:

Thanks to Revell for sending me a copy of this book for review. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in any way for this review. If you choose to purchase a copy of this book through the above link, I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase. Thanks for supporting SincerelyStacie.com reviews. 

Books That Came My Way in September

My email inbox has been full of review requests and my regular mailbox has been busy this month.  I have become much pickier about the books I will read and review, but there are so many great books coming out that I can't pass them up. I am having less and less time to devote to reading, so if I am choosing to read a book, then be sure that I truly think it is worthy of my time. Of course, some books just find their way to my mailbox without my previous knowledge. I am only going to spend time reading and reviewing books that I enjoy. If I'm not feeling it, I'm going to put it aside. I can't get to all these great books that come my way, but at least I can tell you about them here and I hope to review them just as soon as I can! 

If you would like to purchase any of these books, clicking on the photo of the book will take you directly to Amazon.  If you choose to purchase, I will receive a small commission without you having to pay any more for your purchase.  I appreciate your support of SincerelyStacie.com reviews.

BOOKS FOR REVIEW

WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal

By: Elizabeth Enslin

Published: September 23, 2014

Publisher: Seal Press

Love and marriage brought American anthropologist Elizabeth Enslin to a world she never planned to make her own: a life among Brahman in-laws in a remote village in the plains of Nepal. As she faced the challenges of married life, birth, and childrearing in a foreign culture, she discovered as much about human resilience, and the capacity for courage, as she did about herself.

WHILE THE GODS WERE SLEEPING: A Journey Through Love and Rebellion in Nepal tells a compelling story of a woman transformed in intimate and unexpected ways. Set against the backdrop of increasing political turmoil in Nepal, Enslin’s story takes us deep into the lives of local women as they claim their rightful place in society—and make their voices heard.

I have already read and reviewed this book. You can see this review, HERE.  I basically liked it, especially the real life stories the author shared about life in Nepal and the issues for the women there. It got a bit bogged down in the study part of her research, but still a good read. 

YOUR LIFE ISN'T FOR YOU: A Selfish Person's Guide to Being Selfless

By: Seth Adam Smith

Published: September 22, 2014

Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers

In this book, Seth Adam Smith expands on the philosophy behind his extraordinarily popular blog post “Marriage Isn’t for You”—which received over 30 million hits and has been translated into over twenty languages—and shares how living for others can enrich every aspect of your life, just as it has his. With a mix of humor, candor, and compassion, he reveals how, years before his marriage, his self-obsession led to a downward spiral of addiction and depression, culminating in a suicide attempt at the age of twenty. Reflecting on the love and support he experienced in the aftermath, as well as on the lessons he learned from a difficult missionary stint in Russia, his time as a youth leader in the Arizona desert, his marriage, and even a story his father read to him as a child, he shares his deep conviction that the only way you can find your life is to give it away to others.

I have already reviewed this book. You can see that review, HERE. This book is a reminder that when we share our love with others, we receive even more love back. 

CRAZY IS NORMAL

By: Lloyd Lofthouse

Published: June 13, 2014

Publisher: Three Clover Press

Multi award winning author, Lloyd Lofthouse kept a daily journal for one-full school year and that journal became the primary source of this teacher’s memoir.

This book is only $.99 for Kindle right now. Click the photo above to purchase it. 

Since I work in the Middle School/High School, I figured I could relate to the author's stories. I'm looking forward to reading it and sharing my review in the next couple weeks.

BITTERSWEET: Acorn Hills Series Book 1

By: Grace Augustine

Published: October 5, 2013

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Bittersweet is the story of the owner of a Fortune 500 consulting company and the ups and downs of every day life in the fictitious Pacific Northwest town of Acorn Hills. Jake Evans, CEO and savvy businessman, had it all...a great job, money to burn and the perfect girlfriend, but his wandering eye seemed to always get him in trouble. 
From Jake and Jillian to Denise and David, Ginger and Jordan and Richard Dempsey, this introduction into the Acorn Hills series gives you a glimpse into the lives of this very close knit circle of friends. They have known each other since grade school and are a very integral part of each other, proving that real friendships truly CAN last a lifetime.

You can purchase this book for just $.99 for your Kindle by clicking the photo above. This book and the one below came to me through the author. She lives just about 20 minutes from me and we met for lunch. Grace hosted an author event that I was promoting for The Gazette. A lot of the books I'm featuring this month came from that event. To hear more about that event, click HERE. 

MYSTIC CAPERS: Acorn Hills Series Book 2

By: Grace Augustine

Published: March 7, 2014

Publisher: CreateSpace Publishers

Ginger Farnsworth grew up in the 70's, a very interesting, unique time in history. She was the captain of the cheer squad, led the dance and flag team, and aspired to be the best chef in the world. 

We journey with Ginger through the next forty years as she lives life on the edge. Her penchant for cooking takes her to France and turns her into an award winning pastry chef. We travel through the adversities and joys of her life, from beginning a successful business to finally finding Mr. Right. Mystic Capers, Book 2 of the Acorn Hills series, will tug at your heart strings as you remember the milestone events of your life. It’s funny, romantic, and brutally realistic. Look carefully, you just may see a wee bit o' ye between the lines. 

You can also purchase this book for just $.99 on Kindle by click the above photo. 

A BREAST CANCER ALPHABET 
By: Madhulika Sikka
Published: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Crown Publishing

The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is simply being a woman.  Madhulika Sikka's A BREAST CANCER ALPHABET offers a new way to live with and plan past the hardest diagnosis that most women will ever receive: a personal, practical, and deeply informative look at the road from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

What Madhulika Sikka didn't foresee when initially diagnosed, and what this book brings to life so vividly, are the unexpected and minute challenges that make navigating the world of breast cancer all the trickier.  A BREAST CANCER ALPHABET is an inspired reaction to what started as a personal predicament.

This A-Z guide to living with breast cancer goes where so many fear to tread: sex (S is for Sex - really?), sentimentality (J is for Journey - it's a cliché we need to dispense with), hair (H is for Hair - yes, you can make a federal case of it) and work (Q is for Quitting - there'll be days when you feel like it).  She draws an easy-to-follow, and quite memorable, map of her travels from breast cancer neophyte to seasoned veteran.

As a prominent news executive, Madhulika had access to the most cutting edge data on the disease's reach and impact.  At the same time, she craved the community of frank talk and personal insight that we rely on in life's toughest moments.  This wonderfully inventive book navigates the world of science and story, bringing readers into Madhulika's mind and experience in a way that demystifies breast cancer and offers new hope for those living with it.

I have a hard time imagining any woman who doesn't know someone that has been stricken with breast cancer. I can name several just in my own family, let alone counting the numerous friends and acquaintances I know that have had breast cancer. I wanted to review this book and then share it so others my find help and support for a loved one dealing with breast cancer. Look for this review in a couple weeks.



WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE READ
By: Peter Mendelsund
Published: August 5, 2014
Publisher: Vintage

A gorgeously unique, fully illustrated exploration into the phenomenology of reading—how we visualize images from reading works of literature, from one of our very best book jacket designers, himself a passionate reader. 

What do we see when we read? Did Tolstoy really describe Anna Karenina? Did Melville ever really tell us what, exactly, Ishmael looked like? The collection of fragmented images on a page—a graceful ear there, a stray curl, a hat positioned just so—and other clues and signifiers helps us to create an image of a character. But in fact our sense that we know a character intimately has little to do with our ability to concretely picture our beloved—or reviled—literary figures. In this remarkable work of nonfiction, Knopf's Associate Art Director Peter Mendelsund combines his profession, as an award-winning designer; his first career, as a classically trained pianist; and his first love, literature—he considers himself first and foremost as a reader—into what is sure to be one of the most provocative and unusual investigations into how we understand the act of reading.

As much as I read, I thought this book sounded interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing what it is all about.

THE SALINGER CONTRACT
By: Adam Langer
Published: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Open Road Media

An enthralling literary mystery that connects some of the world’s most famous authors—from Norman Mailer and Truman Capote to B. Traven and J. D. Salinger—to a sinister collector in Chicago

Adam Langer, the narrator of this deft and wide-ranging novel by the author of the same name, tells the intertwining tales of two writers navigating a plot neither one of them could have ever imagined. There may be no other escape than to write their way out of it.

Adam is a writer and stay-at-home dad in Bloomington, Indiana, drawn into an uneasy friendship with the charismatic and bestselling thriller author Conner Joyce. Conner is having trouble writing his next book, and when a menacing stranger approaches him with an odd—and lucrative—proposal, events quickly begin to spiral out of control.

I don't typically read thrillers, so I'm not sure how intense this will be, but I'll give it a shot.

AN UNSEEMLY WIFE
By: E. B. Moore
Published: October 7, 2014
Publisher: NAL Trade

Not all journeys come to an end....

 
1867. Ruth Holtz has more blessings than she can count—a loving husband, an abundant farm, beautiful children, and the warm embrace of the Amish community. Then, the English arrive, spreading incredible stories of free land in the West and inspiring her husband to dream of a new life in Idaho.
 
Breaking the rules of their Order, Ruth’s husband packs up his pregnant wife and their four children and joins a wagon train heading west. Though Ruth is determined to keep separate from the English, as stricture demands, the harrowing journey soon compels her to accept help from two unlikely allies: Hortence, the preacher’s wife, and the tomboyish, teasing Sadie.
 
But as these new friendships lead to betrayal, what started as a quest for a brighter future ends with Ruth making unthinkable sacrifices, risking faith and family, and transforming into a woman she never imagined she’d become…. 

I've always been intrigued by the Amish lifestyle. There are several that live in the area I grew up in and we frequently would drive by their farms and purchase their delicious baked goods. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing this book in the next few weeks.

PRESCRIPTION FOR LIFE
By: Richard Furman MD FACS
Published: September 30, 2014
Publisher: Revell

During his more than thirty years as a vascular surgeon, Richard Furman literally held clogged arteries and diseased hearts in his hands and wondered why the person lying on the table hadn't been more careful. Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in America, and in most cases it is completely preventable. So why are we slowly destroying our bodies and killing ourselves? And what can we do to turn it around?

The good news is, simple, sustainable lifestyle changes can mean the difference between health and infirmity, between life and death. Putting his three decades of experience and education to work, Dr. Furman gives readers the strategies they need to live not just longer, but younger. This essential resource to health helps readers

-achieve and maintain their ideal weight
-reduce their risk for life-threatening diseases
-make exercise a natural part of their lives
-learn what foods to eat and what foods to avoid

It even shows how following the plan can not only eliminate heart disease, but also keep people safe from various cancers, dementia, diabetes, stroke, erectile dysfunction, and other age- and obesity-related problems.

Dr. Furman wants readers to realize that poor health during one's "golden years" is not inevitable. It can and should be avoided at all cost. And with his expert advice, readers can live long, healthy, vibrant lives, enjoying time with friends and family instead of wasting it in doctors' offices and hospitals.

Who doesn't want to live longer and healthier? I'm sure most of the tips in this book will be ones I've heard before, but hoping for some new ideas and research. I'll be reviewing this one next week!

CHASING VICTORY: The Winters Sisters Book 1
By: Joanne Jaytanie
Published: March 21, 2013
Publisher: Books to Go Now

Victory Winters possesses an unusual innate sense of communication, bordering on
telepathic when relating to animals. She is a world-renowned geneticist, and based
on these facts, she is kidnapped by Lawrence Braxton. Braxton is the madman CEO
who runs Biotec, and forces Victory to pursue her research on canine DNA.

Naval officer Tristan Farraday is sent undercover to track Biotec's experiments.
These experiments involve the implantation of canine DNA into humans, thereby
manipulating their genetic makeup. The goal of Biotec is to create the perfect
soldier.

Murder, kidnapping, and blackmail follow as Tristan realizes Victory has been pulled
into Biotec's world against her wishes. She refuses to divulge the genetic
answers Braxton demands. Victory knows Biotec wants to exploit her findings, by
administering them in a destructive manner. Will Tristan rescue Victory from
this madman's grip and save her family? Can he keep her discoveries away from
enemy hands?   

I received this at the author event I mentioned above directly from Joanne. She was fun to chat with and I look forward to seeing what her books are all about. This is also a genre I don't typically read, but her passion for the series made me want to read it! It is just $2.99 on Kindle right now and you can click the photo above to purchase and check it out for yourself!

ALL GOOD WOMEN
By: Valerie Miner
Published: August 19, 2014
Publisher: Open Road Media

As World War II rages abroad, a group of women forge the bonds of sisterhood in America.

In 1938, while tensions in Europe are reaching a boiling point, four young women with big ambitions enter secretarial school in San Francisco. Motivated to attain the financial stability that eluded their parents, they go to battle for their futures. Moira, of Scottish descent, dreams of being an actress. Ann yearns for the education her Jewish immigrant parents provided for her brother, but not for her. Japanese American Wanda experiences firsthand the racial injustices running rampant in the United States. And Teddy, who left the Dust Bowl for sunny California, comes to startling realizations about herself as the war progresses. These women will be both buoyed and challenged by their dreams, experiencing love, loss, and everything in between. Against the backdrop of a nation gripped by fear and paranoia, Miner eloquently captures the spirit of wartime on the home front.

I love books set during WWII, so this book will be a treat for me. Stay tuned for a review soon!

THE NEXT BREATH
By: Laurel Ostercamp
Published: September 11, 2014
Publisher: PMI Books

"I kiss him, choosing love over honesty, which is a choice nobody should ever have to make…" 
Robin loves sweet, responsible Nick, with his penchant for Beethoven and Ben Folds Five. But she also still loves her college boyfriend Jed, an irreverent playwright plagued with cystic fibrosis. Now Robin is struggling to reveal her secrets and confront her past, as she finally performs in the play that Jed wrote for her, eleven years ago. Will Robin have the strength to keep her promise and stay true to her heart? 

Alternating between present-day scenes, college flashbacks, and segments from Jed’s play, this tear-jerking yet uplifting tale illustrates how life is finite but love is infinite, and the road to recovery begins with the next breath. 

I reviewed Ostercamp's first book THE HOLDOUT back in December. See that review, HERE. THE NEXT BREATH follows the same character, Robin, but both books can stand alone and be read in either order. If you'd like to check out THE NEXT BREATH, it is just $2.99 on Kindle and you can get it by clicking the photo above. THE HOLDOUT is also just $2.99 for Kindle and you can get it by clicking HERE.

If you are a fan of the TV show "Survivor" like I am, you should definitely check out THE HOLDOUT!

GOD'S BURIED CHILDREN
By: Daniel Farcas
Published: July 31, 2014
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

This true story is the journal of an orphan child born in Romania in 1980's during Nicolae Ceauscu's communist regime, Daniel becomes a homeless child on Bucharest streets and in the city underground sewers after he runs away from the orphanage and lives through the 1989 Anticommunism Revolution. 

Daniel ends up running from the Romanian Secret Service and police that want him dead and he manages to fly to U.S. using someone else passport help by Mariana, an American girl that falls in love with him while in a Humanitarian Mission in Bucharest. There are other stories tangled in the novel, an adopted child, a child reunited with his father and a child killing his father and grandfather who abandon him. 

I was sent this book from the author. It details another tragic part of our history and stories like this always intrigue me. It's a short book and is just $2.99 for Kindle. You can get it by purchasing the photo above.

THE STORY OF FESTER CAT
By: Paul Magrs
Published: November 4, 2014
Publisher: Penguin Group

"I always knew that the rest of my story is gonna be a good one. I don’t know how I knew that, but I always did. Ungow! I am Fester the cat. Welcome to my book, everyone!"

From when he first ambled into Paul Magrs’s yard—skinny, covered in flea bites, and missing all but one and a half teeth—Fester knew he’d found his family. Paul and his partner, Jeremy, thought it was the ragged black-and-white stray, tired from a rough life on the streets, who was in desperate need of support. But clever Fester knew better. He understood that it was his newfound owners who needed the help.

Over the course of seven years, the feisty feline turned the quaint Manchester house into a loving home. Through his fierce spirit, strong will, and calming energy, Fester taught Paul and Jeremy how to listen and breathe, how to appreciate the joys of simply sitting and singing (what Fester’s purrs sounded like to his silly humans), and how to find joy and contentment in life, even when dealing with hardship.


This is the true story of an extraordinary little cat whose gentle charm and trusting soul turned two young men into a family.

Since I am a cat person, I couldn't pass up this story. It's getting a lot of buzz and the staff of Penguin Group keep raving about it. Look for this review in November.

MAPS AND LEGENDS: Reading and Writing Along the Borderlands
By: Michael Chabon
Published: December 20, 2011
Publisher: Open Road Media

In these lively critical and personal essays, Chabon asserts his literary manifesto: “I read for entertainment, and I write to entertain. Period.”

This collection of sixteen essays champions the cause of sci-fi and westerns, superheroes and horror shows, gumshoes and goblins—all the genre novels, comics, and pulp fiction that get pushed aside when literary discussion turns serious. For Chabon, the stories that give us great pleasure are in many ways our truest, best art—the building blocks of our shared imagination. Whether he’s taking up Superman or Sherlock Holmes, Poe or Proust, Chabon’s emphatic mission is to explore the reasons we tell each other tales, and to offer a glimpse of his own history as reader and writer.

Frankly, I'm not sure about this one. But, I'll give it a shot! If nothing else, I will enjoy his story of being a writer, I'm sure.

Books I Purchased

These books were purchased at an author event I attended last Sunday.  To hear more about that event and the authors that were there, click HERE.

WHAT CAT ARE YOU?

By: Lori Lebda and Tami Bergeson

Published: January 5, 2014

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services

Do you have the unique look of a Persian, with the determination of a Maine Coon, the heart of a Singapura and the graceful beauty of a Norwegian Forest Cat? If you have great affection for the feline species, you’re not alone. With well over forty breeds out there, what cat are you? 

Take these three fun quizzes to learn what cat you are. Quiz one is for personality, quiz two is appearance and quiz three is choices. Each test score will account for one component of your "kitty genetic makeup." At the end we add your scores together to see what your overall breed is. While it’s possible to end up the same breed for all three quizzes and the overall breed (making you a purebred), it’s also possible to look like a regal Bombay, be as feisty as a Siamese, think like a Cornish Rex, and overall have the heart of a Korat. Will you end up being a purebred, mixed or moggy? Do you want to be the same breed as your family and friends? Manipulate your answers and score to end up as your favorite cat. 

I met these two authors at the event I mentioned above. They live in Iowa and have written these unique quiz books including one for dog lovers as well. They have worked hard to make sure their formulas work and give surprising results. You can get this book for just $2.99 on Kindle by clicking the photo above if you are dying to know what kind of cat you really are!

A CASE OF HEARTS 

By: Kathryn Daugherty

Published: September 6, 2013

Publisher: The Write Place

Carol Matthews has experienced more than her fair share of loss in her twenty-seven years. After the death of her beloved older brother, the responsibility of raising his son—four-year-old Jeff—is the only thing that keeps her going. Just when life begins to return to something called normal, the fear of losing Jeff sends Carol’s world into chaos. Jeff’s rich and well-connected grandparents petition for Jeff’s custody, leaving Carol in search of an experienced lawyer. Attorney Donovan Delaney’s own trouble with the law has left his career in shambles. With resources low and no new clients in the wings, things look desperate until Carol Matthews walks through his door. Carol’s case could be the second chance he needs to restore his professional reputation. With not only Jeff’s future at stake, Carol and Donovan fight their undeniable attraction to each other to focus on what’s really important. Can Carol willingly open her heart to another possible loss? Will Donovan risk the career of his dreams? If winning means success, what will be the cost?

Another Iowa author and one I met at the event. She is truly thrilled to have a published novel and is currently writing her second. This one was a finalist in the Midwest Book Awards and for a first time author, I think that is pretty awesome. I'm looking forward to checking it out.

STORMIN' NORMAN: THE SOGGY DOGGY

By: Andy Allen

Published: November 7, 2011

Publisher: Beavers Pond Press

Two best friends--one human, one dog--discover the trouble that can come from a harmless looking stick near a creek bank. When Norm the dog is caught in the current, Andy must go to great lengths to save his pal!

STORMIN NORMAN: The Soggy Doggy is based on the Iowa flood of 2008, where many homes were destroyed and lives were changed forever. This wonderful story of friendship in the face of danger will warm the heart of any animal lover.

I also met Andy at the author event. He lives just a half hour from me and is a teacher. We had a great chat about children's books and the flood and teaching middle schoolers. I'm looking forward to reading and sharing his book with you. He has a second book coming out in a few months continuing with Norman and his adventures. 

The following books I got through a Kindle Daily Deal. If you like finding great books to read on your Kindle at low prices, be sure to follow me on Facebook, HERE or Twitter, HERE. I frequently share books deals that you won't want to miss. You can also check out the Kindle Daily Deals by clicking on the right side of my blog labeled Kindle Daily Deals. 

UP AT BUTTERNUT LAKE: A Novel (Butternut Lake Trilogy)

By: Mary McNear

Published: April 8, 2014

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

In the tradition of Kristin Hannah and Susan Wiggs, Mary McNear introduces readers to the town of Butternut Lake and to the unforgettable people who call it home.

It's summer, and after ten years away, Allie Beckett has returned to her family's cabin beside tranquil Butternut Lake, where as a teenager she spent so many carefree days. She's promised her five-year-old son, Wyatt, they will be happy there. She's promised herself this is the place to begin again after her husband's death in Afghanistan. The cabin holds so many wonderful memories, but from the moment she crosses its threshold Allie is seized with doubts. Has she done the right thing uprooting her little boy from the only home he's ever known?

Allie and her son are embraced by the townsfolk, and her reunions with old acquaintances—her friend Jax, now a young mother of three with one more on the way, and Caroline, the owner of the local coffee shop—are joyous ones. And then there are newcomers like Walker Ford, who mostly keeps to himself—until he takes a shine to Wyatt . . . and to Allie.

Everyone knows that moving forward is never easy, and as the long, lazy days of summer take hold, Allie must learn to unlock the hidden longings of her heart, and to accept that in order to face the future she must also confront—and understand—what has come before.

A book set in a cabin on the lake....I'm there! Her second in this series, BUTTERNUT SUMMER, is also available.

ETCHED IN SAND

By: Regina Calcaterra 

Published: August 6, 2013

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Regina’s Calcaterra memoir, Etched in Sand, is an inspiring and triumphant coming-of-age story of tenacity and hope.
 
Regina Calcaterra is a successful lawyer, New York State official, and activist. Her painful early life, however, was quite different. Regina and her four siblings survived an abusive and painful childhood only to find themselves faced with the challenges of the foster-care system and intermittent homelessness in the shadows of Manhattan and the Hamptons.
 
A true-life rags-to-riches story, Etched in Sand chronicles Regina’s rising above her past, while fighting to keep her brother and three sisters together through it all.
 
Beautifully written, with heartbreaking honesty, Etched in Sand is an unforgettable reminder that regardless of social status, the American Dream is still within reach for those who have the desire and the determination to succeed.

My friend, Diana, had just told me how wonderful this book was and then just days later it was a Kindle deal. I can't wait to read this one!

AN INVISIBLE THREAD: The Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, A Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny
By: Laura Schroff

Published: November 1, 2011

Publisher: Howard Books

AN INVISIBLE THREAD tells of the life-long friendship between a busy sales executive and a disadvantaged young boy, and how both of their lives were changed by what began as one small gesture of kindness.

When Laura Schroff brushed by a young panhandler on a New York City corner one rainy afternoon, something made her stop and turn back. She took the boy to lunch at the McDonald’s across the street that day. And she continued to go back, again and again for the next four years until both their lives had changed dramatically. Nearly thirty years later, that young boy, Maurice, is married and has his own family. Now he works to change the lives of disadvantaged kids, just like the boy he used to be. 

An Invisible Thread is the true story of the bond between a harried sales executive and an eleven-year-old boy who seemed destined for a life of poverty. It is the heartwarming story of a friendship that has spanned three decades and brought meaning to an over-scheduled professional and hope to a hungry and desperate boy living on the streets.

I remember hearing about this book and seeing the author on various talk shows when this book came out. I have been wanting to read it and right now it is still just $1.99 for Kindle. Get your copy by clicking the photo above!

LARGER THAN LIFE

By: Jodi Picoult

Published: August 4, 2014

Publisher: Ballantine Books

From Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Storyteller and My Sister’s Keeper, comes a gripping and beautifully written novella, now available exclusively as an eBook. Set in the wilds of Africa, Larger Than Life introduces Alice, the unforgettable character at the center of Picoult’s anticipated new novel, Leaving Time. 
 
A researcher studying memory in elephants, Alice is fascinated by the bonds between mother and calf—the mother’s powerful protective instincts and her newborn’s unwavering loyalty. Living on a game reserve in Botswana, Alice is able to view the animals in their natural habitat—while following an important rule: She must only observe and never interfere. Then she finds an orphaned young elephant in the bush and cannot bear to leave the helpless baby behind. Thinking back on her own childhood, and on her shifting relationship with her mother, Alice risks her career to care for the calf. Yet what she comes to understand is the depth of a parent’s love. 

The new trend in books is for authors to come out with novellas or short stories before their main book comes out. This one is on Kindle for $1.99. This is only available as an ebook and gives you a bit of back story on the main character in her newest novel, LEAVING TIME, which comes out October 14, 2014. I've already pre-ordered mine and you can get yours by clicking HERE.

I'm a huge Jodi Picoult fan and I'm sure this one won't disappoint. 

PHEW!

That was a lot of books this month 

and my schedule isn't leaving much free time for reading, 

but you can be sure I'm using every chance I get. 

There is too much good reading to get to! 

Stay tuned for lots of reviews this month!