Tag Archive: Kindle



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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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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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


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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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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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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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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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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Farm Flop: A City Dweller's Guide to Failing on a Farm in Two Years Or LessFarm Flop: A City Dweller’s Guide to Failing on a Farm in Two Years Or Less by Devin Rose

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been reading a lot about farm life. Lots of how-tos. Most of them assume that your life will go right and will follow the recommended ways. Very few are honest and show you how it can go wrong. This one does. Mr. Devin Rose tells his tale and how he and his wife try to make it as farmers. Sadly their family was too young to make it work for them. But his cautionary tale could apply to old folks like my husband and I as we just want some small piece of land to retire onto. Surely if we don’t get too gung-ho we can make it. We don’t plan on cows or horses. Maybe a goat or some chickens. Maybe only a dog. Maybe not even that. Our health and needs will lead us.

I must admit that Mr. Rose told a good story. With all the fails, it still didn’t sound too apologetic. I felt sorry for him, but not in a way that made his attempts hopeless. He tells his story with a sense of humor and gives us the life lessons he learned along the way. Failures are merely tries that didn’t right themselves.

I think the most off-putting of the story was the Catholic bent. But the story wasn’t preachy. He just shared that is was part of the philosophy he and his family tries to live to. Most of the book was dedicated to his family attempting to live life on a small farm.

I picked this up for free on OHFB (One Hundred Free Books.com) but I think it is well worth the $2.99 asking price now. I wish the author luck in the next part of his adventures. And I hope his health is better now.

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Alpha Knows Best (Wicked Good Witches #2)Alpha Knows Best by Starla Silver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I read this on the heels of the first book of the series. These are more story-driven rather than by humor. Still with vampires and werebeings not being my favorite types of characters, there are enough witchness to make me happy to continue reading.

As with the first book, this is a quick read that is meant for adults as the situations are sexier than a lot of stories out there. But sex is not what leads the story, it just happens and isn’t too in your face. If you like vampires and werewolves this is your kind of series.

The price is right, this book and its prequel and sequel are free. After book three there is a fee involved. Normally that wouldn’t upset me. An author does need to get paid. But my budget is about as strained as it can get with a move imminent in my life. But I will try to finish the series once the money settles down.

So far, both of the books in this series are quick reads. took about an hour or so each. So if your looking for something lighter this is for you. It’s just not of a comedic nature. That’s okay. There’s enough to the story to keep you going.

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THE AVOERIA ARCHIVE

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