Category: Reviews


Review: How To Declutter And Simplify Your Life: Essential Tips On Getting Organized And Living In A Stress Free Home by Kathy Stanton

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September 13, 2015

How To Declutter And Simplify Your Life: Essential Tips On Getting Organized And Living In A Stress Free HomeHow To Declutter And Simplify Your Life: Essential Tips On Getting Organized And Living In A Stress Free Home by Kathy Stanton
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Since I rarely buy books that cost more than $.99, and usually find interesting if not ingenious reads, I guess I expected a lot more from a book that cost $2.99. Instead, I was deeply disappointed.

Not only did I NOT find ways to help me with clutter removal, I learned that many geniuses have been ‘messy’. How does that encourage me to declutter? And I learned what I already knew, that is, if you have deep depression or other mental problems (social anxiety, etc.) or are in pain (fibromyalgia anyone?) that the chances of having a clean domicile are next to impossible. Wow! I paid nearly three dollars for that knowledge? Oh, and the only hope is to ask for help. Yeah, did she forget that if you are on disability you don’t have the money to hire help?

So I stay with the only hope she gave me: Einstein and others were messy.

I bought this book because I picked up other books in Kathy Stanton’s series and wanted to start with the first one. Maybe I will learn more in the other books.

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Review: Simon Ships Out A heroic cat at sea. Based on a true story by Jacky Donovan

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September 9, 2015

Simon Ships Out A heroic cat at sea. Based on a true storySimon Ships Out A heroic cat at sea. Based on a true story by Jacky Donovan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It hasn’t been that long ago that I got a phone call while I was at my writers’ meeting that my Panda, a beautiful tuxedo cat, had passed away while playing with his cat mate. Must have been a heart attack, we had decided, but we miss him lots. So when I saw the cover of this book with a near twin to Panda, I had to pick it up. It didn’t hurt that it was free. (Now it is $3.99)

What a great way to teach a historical event, through the eyes of the cat, and sometimes the dog. These two pets are on a ship that is in the war. This is not from an American point of view but rather from the British side. That is a part of history not taught in our US schools so this is a cool way to teach about ship and the war and how it might have felt to be a cat with bombs and guns going off. Poor little creatures can’t understand yet they do their best for the nice people who take care of them.

Often I found the narrative from the cat’s mind seemed either too smart or not smart enough. In other words, in my life with cats this point of view often didn’t ring true. But then again, who knows what those furry friends think anyway? It’s worth the read, and I think sailors would love it even more.

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Review: Odds and Ends by Audrey Claire

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September 6, 2015

Odds and Ends (Margot and Odds Cozy Mystery Book 1)Odds and Ends by Audrey Claire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It made me sad that I didn’t like this story more. After all it has a female main character who is not a teenager, is, in fact, a senior citizen. They can have adventures, too, you know! But I’m afraid I could never relate to the main character. She seems so helpless and often foolish. And the other characters were equally less than real.

I did like the cat.

Maybe you will like it more. Could be I am distracted by the move and all. Maybe I’ll try it again after my life settles down.

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Review: A Christmas Gift from the Past by S.A. Molteni

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A Christmas Gift from the PastA Christmas Gift from the Past by S.A. Molteni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am not a fan of schmaltzy Christmas stories. Having never had money at that time of year and having four kids that I hoped to buy something for and never could do much…. and other people, grandmothers and friends, had to supply that need (Yes, I am grateful others could gift my children—just wished I could!)… anyway, that time of year always makes me depressed and feeling very Scroogeish.

But since I was reading S.A. Molteni’s other books and this one was free, also, I thought I’d give it a chance. It was a story that warmed my heart and reminded me how great it is to make memories with loved ones. Those are the true gifts.

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Review: Fade to Gray by S.A. Molteni

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Fade to GrayFade to Gray by S.A. Molteni
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As those of you who follow my reviews know, I do not like short stories. But somehow, this didn’t apply. Since I have already read a few books by the author, S.A. Molteni, I felt I knew the main character, the author herself, pretty well. Thereby, this is just another chapter to her life. And it was one I could relate to. Who would think there was enough to write about in just letting one’s hair go gray?

My own experience is that I have dyed or bleached my hair since I was 18 years old. I never liked my mouse brown/dirty dishwater blonde hair. Going gray is still not the problem. As long as that icky brown is the main color I will continue. I would love to go gray like some of my friends, or white as a co-worker did. So, I am in the same position that Ms. Molteni found herself. I guess it happens to a lot of us as we hit 50 or older. She used the example of Jamie Lee Curtis, but I thought often of Liz Taylor and her many hair color changes. Going natural takes either guts or severe laziness. Of course if we had the money to have that special cosmetologist the author was able to use once–and the patience of Job to sit there that long, maybe we could do this gradually.

Still, her story rings true and fills one with humor about the situation. Will I Fade to Gray? Not yet. I just bought a box of color. Maybe in a few months I’ll revisit the situation. 😉

By the way, picked this one up for free and it still is! Fun read!

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

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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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