A Little Monday Inspiration - Family

With what pleasure do we look upon a family,

through the whole of which

reign mutual love and esteem,

where the parents and the children

are companions for one another,

without any other difference than what is made

by respectful affection on the one side,

and kind indulgence on the other...

Adam Smith

One of my favorite pictures of our family from July 2008. Taken in the Smokey Mountains

As our children have turned into a tween and teenagers right before our eyes, this quote has even more meaning for me.  The conversations we are having, the trust that we are building, and the love and laughter that is shared in our home reminds me of what a family is all about.

These cuties above have turned into strong-willed, intelligent, and funny young adolescents. I am amazed by their talents, their convictions, and their insights.  I have no idea what the future holds for them, but I do know whatever it is they decide to do, it will bring all of us joy!

Reagan, Patrick and Bennett on Easter 2015

Breathe, Laugh and Relax

I'm taking a few days off. 

I'm traveling to Denver and taking a few days 

to breathe, 

to laugh, 

and to relax. 

I'll be visiting one of my best friends as well as my niece.

I'm looking forward to sipping coffee in the morning and drinking wine at night.

I'm looking forward to catching up on life and sharing laughter.

I'm looking forward to seeing the mountains out the window and breathing the fresh air.

I'm looking forward to a little break from reality.

And when I return, I'll be refreshed and ready to tackle the next project!

Book Review: The Money Trader By Jerry Anderson

THE MONEY TRADER

By: Jerry Anderson

Published: August 17, 2012

Publisher: Word & Image, LLC

Fiction




A friend of mine asked if I would read a book written by a friend of his. I was a little skeptical because the topic of "corporate greed" isn't my usual choice in reading. But, I agreed to give it a look. I will admit that I struggled at times, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Jake Buchanan has hit it big in the world of commodity trading. By getting lucky in the silver market in the 80's he set himself and his wife, Janet, up for a life of luxury. They had multiple homes and cars, took numerous trips, and held lavish parties.  His wife was also establishing herself as a business woman in the medical field, opening clinics all around the Twin Cities. But, Jake's luck soon ran out and he got a bit too big for his britches. Everything around him starts falling apart. His business is crumbling, his wife leaves him and he eventually has to start taking the bus to work, without even a penny in his pocket. When Jake begins to reflect on what's important, while he is at his lowest, he begins to see life in a whole new way.

While thinking how to describe this book to other readers, I would say it is a "Romance Novel for Men".  The book is full of money, corporate greed, big cities, cars and beautiful women. It's written from Jake's perspective offering a look into his thoughts during some of the best and worst days of his life. It's the story of a boy who grew up under the limelight of his father and in the shadow of his brothers. As an adult, he just wanted to make them proud. After losing his mother, he set out to prove to the world that he could make something of himself.  Once he became established in the construction business, he began to teach himself about commodity trading and he found that he could be successful. He earned the trust of his clients and helped many of them become millionaires, even becoming one himself. Until he started to lose money. Then the downward spiral was fast and brutal and even luck couldn't get him out of that mess.

The favorite part of the book for me included Jake's reflection on his childhood, college years and the early part of his marriage to Janet. I loved all the great tidbits about living in the Twin Cities. The only downside of the book was it was heavily detailed and didn't move along as quickly as I would have liked. Even when Jake takes a trip to Europe, I felt like it was more of a travelogue than part of the actual story. But, it does offer great tips for someone wanting to visit those countries.

I found Jake's emotions raw and real. I learned a lot about the business of trading and the highs and lows experienced in minutes, hours, and days on the floor.  Jake eventually has some big decisions to make regarding his career and personal life. I appreciated watching him change over the coarse of the novel, Jake learns the true meaning of success, which most of us know, has nothing to do with money.

_______________________________________________________________________

Jerry Anderson is a commodity broker and trader, former stockbroker, writer, blogger, and the first time author. THE MONEY TRADER is his first published novel. He lives in Minnesota on Loring Park near downtown Minneapolis and he is still active in the markets. To read an excerpt from the book, click HERE. Visit his website, HERE.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book on Kindle for just $2.99, click the photo below:

Thanks to the author for sending a copy of this book my way. This review is my honest opinion. I was not compensated in anyway 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. 

The Winner of PIPSIE, NATURE DETECTIVE

The winner of PIPSIE, NATURE DETECTIVE: The Disappearing Caterpillar by Rick DeDonato has been chosen. The winner has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or I will choose a new winner.


The winner is............................................KRISTINA.




If you weren't chosen and want to purchase the book, click the photo below:

Children's Book Review: If You Were Me and Lived In Hungary By Carole P Roman

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...HUNGARY
A Child's Introduction to Culture Around the World

By: Carole P. Roman

Published: November 17, 2014

Publisher: CreateSpace

Children's Non-Fiction


I knew very little about the country of Hungary before reading this book. Parents can learn right along with their kids while reading this wonderful series of books by Carole P Roman.

As in all this other books in this series, we learn about Hungary's cities, landmarks, language, sports, and food.  Did you know that Rubik's cube was invented there? I didn't. This landlocked country has a lot of offer and by sharing this book with your child, you are teaching them to appreciate other countries and their unique qualities.

I highly recommend this series for educators and parents and anyone who wants to learn more about this great world we live in.

Carole P Roman

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband that employs close to five hundred people. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. Roman has two wonderful sons and hit the jackpot in the daughter-in-law department. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband. For more on Carole P. Roman visit her website, HERE.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...HUNGARY, click the photo below:

On Saturdays I link up with other bloggers in Booking Mama's Kid Konnection. To see other great children's and YA book reviews, click HERE.


Thanks to the author for sending a copy of this book for the purpose of this 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. 

Children's Book Review: If You Were Me and Lived In Scotland by Carole P Roman

IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN...SCOTLAND
A Child's introduction to Cultures Around the World

By: Carole P Roman

Published: January 5, 2015

Publisher: CreateSpace 

Children's Non-Fiction 


After reading a novel set in Scotland this week, I felt it was the perfect time to learn a bit about Scotland's culture as well. Both authors did a fine job of teaching all the wonderful things about Scotland. In fact, I even learned something while reading about this great country!

I had no idea that Scotland was made up of 790 islands. I am sure I learned this fact at some point in my education, but it never stuck with me. Of course, when you think of Scotland, the mystical Loch Ness Monster always comes to mind, but there is so much more to learn about Scotland.

Scotland is definitely on my list of countries I'd like to visit some day and this book just confirmed it. By sharing this book and others by Roman, you can teach your children about all the wonderful places that make up our world.  These books share their country's language, culture, food, and sports with the reader and offer a look into a country that is different from where we live.  You just might find that we have things in common too!

If you are looking for books to teach your children about other cultures, I highly recommend this series of books by Carole P Roman. They would make an excellent addition to a home or school library.

Carole P Roman

Award winning author Carole P. Roman is a former teacher turned businesswoman. She has successfully run a family business with her husband that employs close to five hundred people. Her most favorite job is being grandmother to her many grandchildren. Roman has two wonderful sons and hit the jackpot in the daughter-in-law department. She currently lives on Long Island with her husband. For more on Carole P. Roman visit her website, HERE. 

To purchase a copy of IF YOU WERE ME AND LIVED IN SCOTLAND, click the photo below:

On Saturday, I'll be linking up with other bloggers at Booking Mama's Kid Konnection to feature book reviews of children's and YA books. To see all the great book reviews, click HERE.


Thanks to the author for sending 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: At the Water's Edge By Sara Gruen

AT THE WATER'S EDGE

By: Sara Gruen

Published: March 31, 2015

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau - Random House

Fiction/Historical Fiction



When I read that Sara Gruen was coming out with a new novel and it was set during WWII, I jumped at the chance to review it.  Her best-selling book WATER FOR ELEPHANTS is still one of my all-time favorite books. It was also adapted into a movie that was extremely well done, in my opinion.

AT THE WATER'S EDGE is mainly set in Scotland during the middle of WWII, but it begins in Philadephia. Maddie and Ellis are married. They and their friend, Hank, have just embarrassed themselves in front of Ellis's parents. They have officially written Ellis off and ended all financial ties. Ellis, Hank, and Maddie have been used to living a life of luxury which included shopping all day, partying all night, sleeping it off and starting over the next day. When Ellis makes fun of his father's attempt to capture the Loch Ness Monster, he realizes the only way to win back his affection, and more importantly, his money, is to hunt the Loch Ness Monster himself and restore his family's good name. Without much thought to what was going on in the rest of the world, Ellis, Maddie and Hank sail off on a ship to Scotland during the middle of a war. Each part of the journey offers a social awakening that neither of them can comprehend. Their arrival in Scotland is met with much judgment about the men not serving in the war and their lack of respect towards the people they expect to serve their needs.  Each day Hitler continues to rage war against the innocent while the two men are trying to find the monster, oblivious to other's needs and concerns. With Maddie left alone at the inn, she begins to realize this journey has been a huge mistake and she comes to learn what is really important in life.

I was quite frustrated with the three main characters and their lack of respect and empathy, as well as the ridiculous expectations they had toward those they viewed as their servants. I didn't like the characters which made me not want to read the book because they made me so angry. But, as I continued to read, I found I was drawn into the story as I saw Maddie changing before my eyes. Even with frustrating characters, Gruen skillfully writes with attention to historical detail, richly descriptive settings, and offers a bit of a scandalous romance to keep readers interested beyond flawed the characters.

I enjoyed that this was another WWII novel, with yet a different perspective on the war.  Even though Scotland wasn't directly affected, they were still suffering due to rations, lack of medical services, financial losses and buildings being bombed. Many of their family members also went off to serve and never returned. The novel shares a lot of history related to the Loch Ness Monster and the numbers of people who have attempted to capture a photo of it.

With Maddie left behind each day, she begins to befriend the women who work at the inn where they are staying. These friendships become valuable to Maddie and contribute to her new found courage and maturity. Her new friends, Meg and Anna, teach her skills and eventually allow her to help out around the pub. But, when Ellis sees that Maddie has crossed the line and has befriended "the help", Maddie gets herself in a bit of trouble with her husband and Angus, the proprietor. This all leads to a dramatic conclusion that is a bit too tidied up. I would have to say that overall, the novel was interesting, but nothing that kept me up late at night reading.  It won me over with the wartime setting and Scottish landscape but lost my interest a bit in the story. If you like historical fiction, you may want to check this out if you can get past whiny characters and a neatly-tied-bow of an ending.

Sara Gruen - source, Photo by Tasha Thomas

Sara Gruen is the bestselling author of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS, APE HOUSE, RIDING LESSONS, AND FLYING CHANGES. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and three sons, A devoted animal lover, they also enjoy the company of their dogs, cats, horses, birds and the world's fussiest goat.  For more on Sara, visit her website, www.saragruen.com. You can also find Sara on Facebook, HERE and Twitter, HERE.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of AT THE WATER'S EDGE, click the photo below:

Thanks to Random House for sending a eBook copy for the purpose of this 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.