Category: Reviews


Review: I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Leaving High Tech for Greener Pastures by S.A. Molteni

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September 6, 2015

I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Leaving High Tech for Greener PasturesI.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Leaving High Tech for Greener Pastures by S.A. Molteni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Hobby farmer is the term I learned from one of S. A. Molteni’s other books. That term makes me feel better about what I am about to do. As a vegetarian, moving to an acre and wanting chickens and goats, I feel like I am a betrayer either of ‘real’ farmers or of fellow vegetarians. I realize I am a newbie or ‘greenhorn’, but I am not going into this to kill animals, but rather to enjoy my space with them. Ms. Molteni shares how she cares so deeply for her cows, pigs, chickens, and other farm beasts. Her stories are so personal and yet open for others to wander through her worlds.

When I say worlds, it is how this book reflects the title I.T. Geek to Farm Girl Freak: Leaving High Tech for Greener Pastures. We meet her in her high-pressure job, ride with her as illness takes her elders, then how she and her husband live the farm life. Maybe that doesn’t sound all that great to others but I know I felt a lot better the last time I lived as a hobby farmer. There is a great peace living with and caring for animals and they give so much back. Ms. Molteni illustrates this peace and adventure that happens with the furry and feathered friends.

This particular book has some of the stories I have read in her other books but rather than skipping over them I enjoyed the stories again. They are stories that are good for your soul. By the way, this one is only $.99 and I think for a little peaceful time it is well worth it.

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Review: Pas by S.M. Reine

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September 2, 2015

Pas (War of the Alphas #4)Pas by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I was given this 4-in-1 series book free for honest review.

So here goes! This is the only one in this series I haven’t read before, yet it seamlessly followed the others. At least I knew when this one began as suddenly new stuff was happening that I didn’t recognize.

Diedre Tombs is a mixed up, abused person with addictions and is trying to get it together now that she is attempting growing up and gaining responsibilities. She is hard to love as a character, but when has Sara Reine written characters that are Suzy Sunshines? Yet the abuse she endures and the addictions she continues are hard to read about. And her misguided thoughts about our old friend Rylie hurt.

Then Rylie shows the stuff she’d made of and all is well.

This is a great finisher book. All the threads are nicely tied up and you feel their universe will go on without you.

One of the problems I have with this book, and it may be that it was explained and I missed it with my text-to-speech reading, why is this called PAS? It makes no sense.

I’m glad to see that Ms. Reine has more for us from this LONG bunch of series. Another point of view will be written about soon. Yay!

By the way, because of the adult content this is better to be read by new adults and older. Maybe mature teens will get some of the issues involved here but even this old lady finds it hard to look at some of these issues. Still, it is well worth the read.

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Re-Review: Alpha: An Urban Fantasy Novel by S.M. Reine

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Alpha: An Urban Fantasy Novel (War of the Alphas Book 3)Alpha: An Urban Fantasy Novel by S.M. Reine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Disclaimer: I was given this 4 in 1 book containing this series for free for review. I have to admit that is has been the best way to read it. One right after the other. In this case, listening to British female text-to-speech just kept the story going. But I couldn’t tell when I was in the “Alpha” book. I did feel Deidre becoming stronger though this book shows her struggles with authority and addictions more than the others, I feel. Even so, it is fun to watch her grow as a character and as a leader. Mostly I stick to the first review below.

Disclaimer: I was gifted this book for an honest review.

Maybe it was because my life has been so busy with fun road trips and not so fun hospital time for my husband, but, I had a hard time getting through this story. Usually, I can’t stop reading a Sara Reine book. There were just so many places where my mind wandered away from the story.

I think it is hard to make the main character a favorite for me. Deidre has no respect for Rylie our favorite Alpha werewolf. She doesn’t even have respect for her own alpha. But then he isn’t worth the respect. Meanwhile, Deidre Tombs goes all gooey about a dragon shifter and/or her alpha. It’s hard to know where she stands. She hasn’t much to stand on as she searches for her own animal to shift to. Once she finds it, she has a hard time making it happen.

Okay, all that aside, I am still looking forward to the next book to see what happens next. No, we weren’t left on a cliffhanger. We were left with many threads left undone, possibly fraying at the ends. How can our prolific author tie this all up? Wow!

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Re-Review: Beta by S.M. Reine

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Beta (War of the Alphas, # 2)Beta by S.M. Reine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclosure: I was given this 4 in 1 book of this series free for review. What I have to add to what is written below is that reading it this way I can hardly tell where one book ends and the next begins. That may be because I am ‘reading’ rather listening by text-to-speech. I use the British female–sounds like Julie Andrews reading to me! The books are seamlessly woven together. I do not like the main character as much as I do Rylie, the first one we meet in Ms. Reine’s worlds and the Alpha that remains Alpha through everything. Deidre is full of flaws and teen mistaken ideas and addictions. Yet, she grows on you and you find yourself rooting for her.

Disclosure: I was gifted this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a sequel! I must admit that I am confused as to what our Omega/Beta, Deidre Tombs actually is as a shifter, still we were given a few clues in this book. I really love her character. Shoot, by saying that I show how Sara Reine writes her characters; so realistic that I forgot there is a writer! Yet how realistic is a shapeshifter? Yet, I believe it while reading it. As always, I am left gasping and wanting to become the main character in Stephen King’s Misery. I want the next book NOW!!!! I want to see if I am correct in my guesses. Don’t worry, Ms. Reine. I’m generally a passive person and have plenty to keep me reading until you can crank out the next.

I was glad to see old friends from Seasons of the Moon and on through other series our prolific author has scribed. By the way, I do highly recommend reading all her books start with Season of the Moon. Her books are full of chills and thrills and characters, places and scenes that are at once unbelievable yet the reader sees everything that is taking place. All senses are engaged and you are there! Beta felt as good as any of her books. And the ending, though not quite a cliffhanger, leaves you wanting to know more. What will happen next? What is she? Great job, Sara!

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Review: Chicken Poop for the Soul: Backyard Adventures by Teri Metcalf

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Chicken Poop for the Soul: Backyard AdventuresChicken Poop for the Soul: Backyard Adventures by Teri Metcalf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a sweet story about a woman, her family/friends, and some chickens! I feel jealous that she chose this title. I wish I would have thought of that! How adorable! I loved all the stories about the chickens that roamed over from the neighbors’ yard and became a part of their daily lives.

But then somewhere around 79% the story became about the author and her diet. I think that this should have been titled ‘about the author’, but I got over the change in flow and topic. In fact, I got a bit of ‘it’s a small world’ feeling as she tells of her life in 1968. She was in the same city as I was at the time. She and her husband must be very close to my age, a bit older but at our ages the few years don’t matter anymore. Not only were they in the same city but the author seemed to have the same diet of books that created her diet. Her research for pregnancy and raising children were the same as mine. Even her call of being flexitarian which I have been and was more back then than now. Now I am more vegetarian-leaning, always, toward vegan. Just can’t give up the cheese for long.

But back to the bucolic chickens and their lives. When my children were young I had an acre with roaming chickens and had a couple goats, too. Ms. Teri Metcalf brought that back to me and makes me impatient to get that life back. Only 19 days until that happens!

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Re-Review: Omega by S.M. Reine

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August 29, 2015

Omega (War of the Alphas, #1)Omega by S.M. Reine
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Disclosure: This was my second read of Omega as it was included in a four book gift from the author including the newest in the series, PAS. I decided to reread just to remind myself of the story so far. I stick with the review below. This current copy isn’t loanable as it is just for review.

Disclosure: I received this ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

But, hey! This was another Sara Reine adventure! How could I not love it? Yet another series is grown from the Six Moon Summer beginning. How it is possible Ms. Reine can be so prolific? She’s the alpha writer!

I have to admit to being a bit lost at first. What in the world is an Omega shifter? But that is, indeed, what the question of the book is. Even though we get to see Rylie for a bit, this story isn’t from her point of view. Now we get to see what has happened to the world since it ended and started again. Yet evil still exists and causes all kind of problems. Our Omega shifter must learn to deal with it all and figure out where she fits in.

This was not my favorite of all the books, but it was fun to revisit old friends and see that there is still hope of more story yet to come.

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Review: The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Mobile Home Makeover: by Campbell Spicer by Upgrade two mobile homes into a country cottage!

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August 25, 2015

The Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Mobile Home Makeover: by Campbell SpicerThe Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Mobile Home Makeover: by Campbell Spicer by Upgrade two mobile homes into a country cottage!
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Since I am moving into a double-wide on an acre, I am trying to learn about mobile homes and their capabilities of being redecorated or added on to. I have collected books on tiny homes and container homes and am seeing there are many things a person can do to make their living situation better or more efficient. I picked this book up for more ideas.

Though I didn’t read every word, I did read quite a lot. I am impressed with this guy’s finished result and am glad he shared the process with all of us. What I picked up most is that I would need professionals to take care of the more dangerous things like electricity, plumbing, etc. But much can be done by the owner. Glad to see there are more options out there.

Usually, I notice things like bad spelling or grammar in instructional books (fiction, not so much), but I guess I wasn’t looking or more interested in what this guy was able to do with two single-wide mobiles. Maybe the author already cleaned up the mistakes mentioned in a previous review. I don’t know. But there are pictures and ideas here if you need those. I got it for free, so what do you expect? Is it worth the $5.99 being charged now? I don’t think so. But I guess it all has to do with what you want from the book.

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Review: Chickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a Farm by S.A. Molteni

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August 24, 2015

Chickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a FarmChickens, Hawks and Grumpy Goats: Five Years on a Farm by S.A. Molteni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you follow my reviews, you know that I am reading a lot about farming, gardening, and the like. Most of it is instructional. And so I went into this book thinking I’m reading some how-to book with personality. But into the second ‘chapter’ I realize I am reading an anthology of stories of farm life. Actually, I remember now, that in the first ‘chapter’ I was reading how this family was nearly dying of starvation and they were choosing which young one to not feed. I was horrified! At the end of that story, I figured out it was about chicken hawks and chickens. Not people. Whew! Then I realized I had liked that story after all.

But after a rather realistic story there is one that is about Chicken Little. I nearly stopped reading as it seemed too childish after what I had just read. But I gave it a chance and saw it was very cleverly written story of real life on a farm from the eyes of one of the chickens that had nearly died.

I don’t usually like short stories. As you may well know by now. But somehow, I got into this little book and enjoyed the author’s take on farm life. I picked up this book for free, but it is only $.99 right now. I think it is worth it if you want something different to read. I was so impressed that I went ahead and picked up a couple more stories by S.A. Moteni.

I did learn something. You can call yourself a farm hobbyist. That’s what I’m going to be! 🙂

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Review: Directions on How to Make Plastic Yarn by Patsy Mirtz

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Directions on How to Make Plastic YarnDirections on How to Make Plastic Yarn by Patsy Mirtz
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

What a disappointment! I do a lot of crocheting with ‘plarn’ plastic yarn. I was hoping to find a book that included patterns and ideas. In fact, the cover is full of pictures of items crocheted with plarn. But the book is only about one way of cutting the plastic shopping bags into strips then looping and winding the plarn. That’s it!

I picked this up for free. Now they are charging $.99. Not worth it. The pictures aren’t even clear. Google Plarn and you will find far better pictures to guide you to making not only this version made by interlocking loops of the plastic yarn, but a fun way to make a single ply version cutting in one continuous strip. And there are so many patterns out there to keep you crocheting even when you haven’t the money to buy real yarn.

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Review: Keep Austin Weird: A Lesbian Superhero Love Story for Grown-Ups by Mary Jane

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Keep Austin Weird: A Lesbian Superhero Love Story for Grown-UpsKeep Austin Weird: A Lesbian Superhero Love Story for Grown-Ups by Mary Jane
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Was this a waste of time? I don’t know. I liked being reminded of Boba Tea. I like that one of the main characters was able to see into other people’s future so they could become their best selves. But honestly I felt cheated for the most part. I felt the characters were rather flat. The relationships were weird. There was crying that seemed unnecessary. Come to find out, the author is not female. Mary Jane is a male writing about a lesbian couple. Sure he saved himself some remnant of grace in that he didn’t try to throw in deep emotional feelings or erotic entanglements. That is always a tell-tale sign of honesty. And he must be writing what he knows and loves with ‘super powers’ and the tea. But the book was just too hard to get into and truly enjoy.

Worst of all? It is all written in present-tense. Except in action-pack books, I find this trick to be disarming. It makes the story so unreal. Ugh!

But plenty of people love this book, so go for it. You may like it too!

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