Monday, April 29, 2019

Review of My Life Among the Underdogs

My Life Among the Underdogs: A Memoir
Title: My Life Among the Underdogs
Author:   Tia Torres
Pg: 228
Series: 
Genre: Memoir
Rating:  4.5 stars
     Most people probably know Tia Torres from the Animal Planet show Pit Bulls and Parolees. Which is where I first heard of her. Me and my mom used to watch the show together. The show was what got my mom wanting to get a pitbull someday. Unfortunately, my mom passed away before that could happen.  I plan on someday getting one in her memory because I want to rescue one of these precious and misunderstand dogs.
     Tia’s show shows that both dogs and people can be change. But this book is so much more than that. It goes beyond the show and gives background information on her life and that of her kids. Each chapter focuses on a dog that played an important part in her live as well as her kids.
     This book is a book that is worth the read but I most warn you, you will need tissues. This one is a tear jerker.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Reading this week


I read a total of 719 pages this week.

Finished
 Garfield Complete Works Vol 2 1980-1981 by Jim Davis
A Brush with Shadows by Anna Lee Huber

Reading
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Finding Ever After by Pepper D Basham
The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton
An Artless Demise by Anna Lee Huber

Non-fiction reading
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold

Classic
Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read
Sherwood by Meagan Spooner
American Spirit: Profiles in Resilience, Courage and Faith by Taya Kyle
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
The Reckless by Marylu Tyndall
Courting Mr. Lincoln by Louis Bayard


Book reading for bookclub at work
The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

Reviewing
The Next Right thing: A S Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily P Freeman

Devotional reading


Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week

Review of Escaping from Houdini

Escaping from Houdini (Stalking Jack the Ripper, #3)
Title: Escaping from Houdini
Author:  Kerri Maniscalco  
Pg: 416
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper book 3
Genre: Teen historical, Teen steampunk, teen mystery
Rating:  4 stars
Escaping from Houdini by Kerri Maniscalco is the third book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. While it was a good read it wasn’t my favorite of the three.  Audrey set the majority of the book getting on my nerves.  Mainly for the way she kept treating Thomas there were times I wanted to smack her.
     However as always Thomas Cresswell was some of the best parts of the book. I still enjoyed the themes of the book and the series. Got a love a young woman who wants to be involved in the world of forensics and I love the steampunk feel to the series. The cliff hanger ending of this book has me looking forward to the fourth and final book. That I believe will be my favorite is the story is actually what I think it’s based on the true story of America’s first documented serial killer.  And hopefully the fourth book wraps up the series nicely.


Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Review of Who I am with you

Who I Am with You (Legacy of Faith #1)
Title: Who I am with you
Author:   Robin Lee Hatcher
Pg: 320
Series: Legacy of Faith book 1
Genre: Christian fiction
Rating:  3 stars
 Who I am with you by Robin Lee Hatcher is the first book in a new series. The Legacy of Faith series. I love that many of her newer titles are also the same as song titles.  Which may bring in a new audience.

Jessica Mason doesn’t want to find love. She’s dealing with the loss of her daughter and husband in a car crash as well as a Pregnancy she wasn’t expecting. Ridley Chesterfield is looking for a place to hide from mistakes that were made. 

These two won’t planning on falling in love least of all with each other.

This was a fairly quick sweet read. But then I do tend to enjoy Robin’s books this one wasn’t my favorite but it was still good.  I look forward to the next one in this series. As well as any new books by Robin.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Review of Dead as A Door Knocker

Dead as a Door Knocker (House-Flipper Mystery #1)
Title: Dead as A Door Knocker
Author:   Diane Kelly
Pg: 368
Series: House-Flipper Mystery book 1
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Rating:  4 stars
     Dead as a Door Knocker is the first book in the House-Flipper mystery by Diane Kelly. But this is not my first Diane Kelly book. I loved her previous mystery series about a K-9 cop and her human partner. In this one Whitney Whitaker is a property manager who takes the plunge with the help of her cousin to become a house flipper.
     But ends up tripping over a dead body and she becomes the prime suspect. And rookie police detective Colin Flynn is determined to close his first homicide as quickly as possible even if he has the wrong person.   So it’s up to Whitney to find the murder and clear her name before she finds herself behind bars.
     I enjoyed the fact that there were chapters from the point of view of Whitney’s cat Sawdust. And his adventures with automatic vacuum cleaner. 
     I would recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries and cats.
     I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.




Saturday, April 20, 2019

Review of That Churchill Woman

That Churchill Woman
Title: That Churchill Woman
Author:   Stephanie Barron
Pg: 400
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating:  3.5 Stars
     That Churchill Woman by Stephanie Barron is a historical fiction account of the life Jennie Jerome who would go on to marry Randolph Churchill and become the mother of Winston Churchill. They say fact is stranger than fiction and I believe that they are right.  Jennie Churchill lead one heck of life. And raised a son who in many people’s minds one of the best Prime Ministers of Great Britain.
     But if she hadn’t been Jennie Jerome and a bit of a spitfire I don’t believe Winston would have grown up to be the man and prime minster he was.
     After reading this historical fiction account I know want to read a biography about her to find out how much was true in this and how much was fiction. It is however a book that is worth the read.
    
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Reading this week


I read a total of 1,574 pages this week.

Finished
Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron
Death Waits in the Dark by Julia Buckley
One Potato, Two Potato Dead by Lynn Cahoon
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
Mera Tidebreaker by Danielle Paige
Lost Amusement Parks of Kentuckiana by Carrie Cooke Ketterman

Reading
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Finding Ever After by Pepper D Basham
The Loch Ness Papers by Paige Shelton

Non-fiction reading
The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson 
The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold


Classic
Emily Climbs by L.M. Montgomery

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read
Sherwood by Meagan Spooner
A Brush with Shadows by Anna Lee Huber
American Spirit: Profiles in Resilience, Courage and Faith by Taya Kyle

Book reading for bookclub at work
The Monogram Murders by Sophie Hannah

Reviewing
The Next Right thing: A S Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily P Freeman

Devotional reading


Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week



Thursday, April 18, 2019

Review of When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams


When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams: Hope for Today from 12 Women of the BibleTitle:  When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams: Hope for Today from 12 Women of the Bible

Author: Jill Eileen Smith

Pages: 224

Genre: Non fiction

Rating: 4 stars
    
When Life Doesn’t Match Your Dreams is the first non-fiction book by Jill Eileen Smith. In which she looks at 12 women from the Old Testament to give Biblical examples of what happens and what you can do when life doesn’t match your dreams. The Lessons that one can learn from each these twelve women, what to do and what not to do.
Whatever state of life you’re in as a woman, whatever age there is something in this book for you. There is some lesson that is just for you.  Each woman who reads I feel will take away something different from the book. 
I myself is looking at a life that didn’t got the way I dreamed or planned but after reading When Life Doesn’t Match your dreams, I trust even more that it went the way God planned it even there were a few detours and tears along the way. Everything we go through in life good or bad works out for our good.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Review of Slay in Character

Slay in Character (Cat Latimer Mystery, #4)
Title: Slay in Character
Author:   Lynn Cahoon
Pg: 320
Series: Cat Latimer Mystery book 4
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating:  4 stars
     Slay in Character is the fourth book in the Cat Latimer mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. Cat’s writer’s retreats at her bed and breakfast is going great. This mystery takes us to a ghost town not far from the bed and breakfast. And another murder mystery lands in Cat’s lap. While trying to balance the retreat and her own writing needs.
     This one was a fairy quick read and I did enjoy it. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Like the previous books in this series it reads fast.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.




Monday, April 15, 2019

Review of Just Plain Murder

Just Plain Murder (An Amish Mystery, #6)Title: Just Plain Murder
Author:  Laura Bradford   
Pg: 296
Series: An Amish Mystery book 6
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Rating:  4 stars
     Just Plain Murder is the 6th book in the An Amish Mystery series by Laura Bradford. Claire Weatherly has finally settled into Heavenly working in her shop. She’s made friends among the Amish in the town which has allowed her to bridge the gap slightly between her boyfriend sheriff Jakob and the Amish family he left behind when he became a police officer.
     When a new murder in town hits to close to home for Jakob because his mentor is the victim. Claire is determined to help him solve the murder even if he doesn’t want her help. He’s getting.
     I am enjoying this series even though I don’t really read Amish fiction. But when it is a cozy mystery it takes on her whole new spin.  I do look forward to new books in the series.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Saturday, April 13, 2019

Review of The Accidental Beauty Queen

The Accidental Beauty Queen
Title: The Accidental Beauty Queen
Author:   Teri Wilson
Pg:304
Genre: Contemporary
Rating:  4 stars
The Accidental Beauty Queen by Teri Wilson is about Charlotte Gorman elementary school librarian who lives in her beauty queen twin sister Ginny’s shadow. Though they are twins Ginny is seen as the beautiful one and Charlotte is seen as the smart one.  
When an accident happens and Charlotte has to stand in for her sister at a beauty pageant. The sisters learn things about each other and themselves.  Each sister discovers that there is more to each other than meets the eye. 
I didn’t think that I would like this book because I wasn’t thrilled about the how beauty pageant setting as I’ve never ready understood that world. But I ended up loving it because I found myself relating to nerdy librarian Charlotte. I loved the Harry Potter and other nerdy book quotes.
If you’re on the fence about reading this book I say go ahead and give it a chance you might just be surprised. But in a good way.

 I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
 





Friday, April 12, 2019

Reading this week


I read a total of 1,174 pages this week.

Finished
No Good Tea Goes Unpunished by Bree Baker
As Death Draws Near by Anna Lee Huber
The Liberty Bride by Marylu Tyndall

Reading
The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron
Death Waits in the Dark by Julia Buckley
One Potato, Two Potato Dead by Lynn Cahoon

Non-fiction reading
The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson 

Classic
The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery

Audio on the Way to Work

Getting ready to read
Between Stairs and Stardust by Pepper D Basham
Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Sherwood by Meagan Spooner
The Alamo Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo

Reviewing
The Next Right thing: A S Simple, Soulful Practice for Making Life Decisions by Emily P Freeman

Devotional reading


Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week



Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Mercy Blog Tour: College Lessons


One lesson that I learned from my college years wasn’t learned inside a classroom. The most memorable lessons in life and the ones that we learn the most from are the ones that we learn the hard way. These are the ones that stick with us.
     And for me one such lesson happened midway through my freshman year of college. I was away from home for the first time (not counting summers with my grandparents) and homesick as well as dealing with the aftermath of ending and leaving an abusive relationship. My parents thought me going to school away from home was the best thing for me. At the time I didn’t think so but looking back that semester away was for the best.
     I was home for Thanksgiving break to discover that my mom hadn’t been looking good. I knew something wasn’t right but neither one of my parents would tell me what was wrong. I later heard my dad telling my mom that she needed to me. That I had a right to know, mom said they would tell me when I came home for break after my finals.
     I went back to school, studied for finals while seeing what schools close to home I could transfer to. Found one that had my major applied for transfer. Finished the semester packed up my stuff withdrew from the college and drove home. 
     Once home and finally learning what my mom had to tell me, she got some health news that was kind of scary. She had pre-cancerous cells that were going to lead to surgery and chemo.  I then knew that I had made the right choice by withdrawing for college. The school I applied to transfer to couldn’t get me in until the fall so I had to set a semester out.  But that was fine I was available to drive my mom to doctor appts and treatments so dad didn’t have to miss a lot a work. 
     What I didn’t know at the time was that the week mom had her last treatment I started at a page at the public library. That now 13 years later has me in my dream job.
     Lesson learned even if life doesn’t go the way you planned, it’s going the way God planned.  

Mercy Blog Tour: Book Review




About the Book


Broken. Drowning. Desperate. Lost.
When the lives and hearts of four friends start to crumble, can God’s mercy reach them still?

In her second year of medical school, Fadesola (Sola) Cardoso faces an impossible choice: stay with her longtime boyfriend, the one who knows her darkest secrets and loves her anyway, or move forward with Ladi, the man who gives her hope for an unstained future. Even as she wrestles with her options, life as a medical student becomes increasingly difficult—full of endless exams, stressful social activities, and reminders of a past that continues to haunt her.

Ladi struggles with Sola’s divided loyalties while trying to maintain his perfect image as class president, promising student, and model Christian. But scandals inside and outside the lecture hall threaten to break apart the fragile peace once and for all between Ladi, Sola, and their friends Nikky and Tayo, who are fighting battles of their own.

In this epic second installment in Eniola Prentice’s new-adult Still series, the faith of these four medical students will be tested like never before. Discover their gritty troubles and grand triumphs as they navigate friendships, revelations, romance, and career goals in light of the redemptive power of the cross.




About the Author



My journey as a writer began with an idea—an idea that blossomed into a vision for the Still series. I became fully committed to Christ around 2008 when I began medical school. Shortly after, the idea for the Still series was birthed. My time in medical school was one of the more formative seasons of my life. I made lifelong friendships and, most of all, my journey with Christ really began. Although there were challenging times, I would without a doubt relive the experience in a heartbeat!

I published Still (book 1 in the series) right before residency, and now—five years later—the next book in the series has been published. In the time in between, I was the prodigal daughter and walked away from my Father. Everything on the surface looked good, but my heart was far away from Him. His love never left me, though, and He welcomed me home when I came back to Him. I went through painful processes, but they changed me and made me a better person. The girl who wrote Still is not the woman who wrote Mercy

I am passionate about sowing godly seeds into the hearts of young women. I know how it is to be brokenhearted and believe the lies of the devil because his version of events is all you’re told. I know how it is to truly believe that you are not loved by God because of the events of life.

My hope is that, through my writing, you’ll come to know that God truly loves you and cares about you affectionately. He is close to your broken heart and binds up every wound.

I guess the author bio should be about milestones and, like the quintessential dramatic Nigerian aunty, I have missed the mark. I am a Nigerian-born, American-educated physician who lives in Maryland—but I believe I am more than well-constructed bullet points. I am a child of God through the ups and downs of life, and that will remain constant.

Eniola Prentice


Giveaway!

Celebrate the release of Mercy by entering this exciting giveaway! Fill out the form below for a chance to win a signed copy of Mercy by Eniola Prentice, a $50 Amazon.com gift card, and a beautiful journal. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Void where prohibited. Good luck!



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Title: Mercy
Author:  Eniola Prentice  
Series: The Still series
Genre: Christian New adult
Rating:  4 stars


Mercy by Eniola Prentice is the second book in the still series but can be read without reading the second book.  Mercy opens with four med students getting ready to start their second year of med school. Though it is told through the point of view of the four students with alternating chapters the main character is Fadesola Cardoso Sola to her friends.
     Even though the characters are in medical school the issues and trials that they are going through are the same struggles that people and Christian’s go through in life.  The medical school setting was just a part of it, and at times it was gave the foundations for why all of these different people were together.
     Sola rather or not see wanted to admit it was in an abusive relationship, gave a visual of why woman tend to say in those relationships. By the end of the book I was crying for her and hurting for her. Wishing that she could see that she was so much more and deserved such much more. She was also the character that I related to the most.
     What makes this book so much more was that it was a story about faith and hope and learning that your hope has to come God alone. That you have to trust God with not only your present but your future as well. He’s got this we just have to trust Him. But it’s not always as easy as we think it’s going to be.  Because we don’t want to leave the past in the past much like what the characters in the book have to learn as well.
     I enjoyed this book I loved that the characters were so relatable and easy to find one that you can see yourself in. I look forward to reading other books by this author.


I received a copy of this e-book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
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