August 3, 2017
My Father’s Kingdom Audiobook Review
In a world of religious fervor, devastating sickness, and incessant greed, can the alliance of their forefathers survive? Or will New England feel the wrath of tragic, bloody war?
About My Father’s Kingdom
In 1620, more than 100 devout men and women crossed the treacherous Atlantic Ocean and established a colony in the New World where they could build a righteous and Godly society. Without the fortuitous friendship of the Wampanoag people and their charismatic leader Massasoit, however, it is doubtful the holy experiment would have survived.
Fifty years later Plymouth Colony has not only survived, it has prospered, and more and more Englishmen are immigrating to New England. The blessed alliance with the Wampanoag, however, is in severe jeopardy. Massasoit has passed away along with most of the original settlers of Plymouth Colony, and their children and grandchildren have very different ideas about their historic friendship.
Thrust into the center of events is Reverend Israel Brewster, an idealistic young minister with a famous grandfather and a tragic past. Meanwhile, Massasoit’s son, known as “King Philip” by the English, is tormented by both the present and the past. He is watching the resources and culture of the Wampanoag nation fade away at the hands of the English and desperately wishes to restore hope and security to his people .In a world of religious fervor, devastating sickness, and incessant greed, can the alliance of their forefathers survive? Or will New England feel the wrath of tragic, bloody war?
My Thoughts
This incredibly powerful story is based in Puritan New England and tells the story of the struggles of both the Native Americans and the Englishmen immigrating. This time period is told from the eyes of both the Wampanoag, through Linto and Metacomet, and the Englishmen through Reverend Israel Brewster. It is based during the time before that is known as King Philip’s War. I had studied history in University and we are taught many history lessons throughout high school (in Canada) but not once was this war ever mentioned. This is actually quite disappointing as once I finished the book and started doing research on it, this was actually considered one of the deadliest wars to have ever occurred between the Native Americans and the settlers, with both sides suffering decimating loss of life.
The two groups had originally come to an agreement fifty years earlier – the Wampanoag people helped the Englishmen survive and in turn the English gave them items from the new country such as pots, blankets and more. Fifty years later and following the passing of Massasoit, this alliance is being threatened. The newly arriving Englishmen are not as kind and devoted to the original alliance. There are some that are weary of the alliance and can’t see beyond their prejudice that the Wampanoag people are just like them. Then there are others like Reverend Israel Brewster who questions everything he has ever been taught when his wife dies and believes that the Wampanoag people are just like them. The Wampanoag people are tired of seeing their people suffering, they are suffering from disease, alcohol, deceit, stealing of their land and the murder of their people.
This is an important novel that is well written and narrated. It explains the story honestly and accurately (with an authors note in the end with regards to some changes he had made with language and the naming of the Native American people). It was charged full of emotion, there were so many time that I found myself outraged, angry and in tears at the suffering and injustice. Some of the more emotionally draining moments come near the end of the story which also helped sparked my interest in the real life events leading up to and after this time period.
I strongly believe that this audiobook and accompanying novel should be a must read for all high school students in the US and Canada. It gives a real, honest look at life during this time through the eyes of both sides. It helps to spark curiosity, understanding and empathy. It was well written and narrated from start to finish, I loved every moment.
You can purchase a copy of this audiobook on Audible and Amazon.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
James W. George is a debut author currently residing in Virginia. He is a graduate of Boston University, a military veteran, and a lover of historical fiction.
About the Narrator
Angus Freathy was born and educated in London – that’s the one in England, for you Ohio folks!
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, he went to Switzerland to join Nestlé for a 2-year wandering assignment, which lasted 37 years and involved travel and work on every continent (except the cold ones at the top and bottom).
Periods of residence in the U.S., Hong Kong and Switzerland have resulted in a network of friends and acquaintances with an amazing range of world insight and a wide repertoire of mostly excellent jokes.
Since retirement, Angus and his (still working) wife, Debra have lived in Oregon, Maryland and are now in Dublin, Ohio, ‘the only place we have actually chosen to live since we have been married!’.
Following a crushing rejection by the BBC at the age of 19, Angus is re-activating a long-held ambition and launching a new career in voice-over, with the sole intention of having some fun and being in touch with some very talented people.
The Giveaway!
My Father’s Kingdom Giveaway: $25 Amazon Gift Card
Disclosure: I received an audio copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
August 1, 2017
Class Mom by Laurie Gelman
Laurie Gelman’s clever debut novel about a year in the life of a kindergarten class mom—a brilliant send-up of the petty and surprisingly cutthroat terrain of parent politics.
About Class Mom
Jen Dixon is not your typical Kansas City kindergarten class mom—or mom in general. Jen already has two college-age daughters by two different (probably) musicians, and it’s her second time around the class mom block with five-year-old Max—this time with a husband and father by her side. Though her best friend and PTA President sees her as the “wisest” candidate for the job (or oldest), not all of the other parents agree.
From recording parents’ response times to her emails about helping in the classroom, to requesting contributions of “special” brownies for curriculum night, not all of Jen’s methods win approval from the other moms. Throw in an old flame from Jen’s past, a hyper-sensitive “allergy mom,” a surprisingly sexy kindergarten teacher, and an impossible-to-please Real Housewife-wannabe, causing problems at every turn, and the job really becomes much more than she signed up for.
Relatable, irreverent, and hilarious in the spirit of Maria Semple, Class Mom is a fresh, welcome voice in fiction—the kind of novel that real moms clamor for, and a vicarious thrill-read for all mothers, who will be laughing as they are liberated by Gelman’s acerbic truths.
My Thoughts
Class Mom is by far one of the BEST books I have read all year. I have not laughed out loud (literally) from a book in what feels like forever, I even had tears in my eyes at times while reading. Class Mom is witty, honest and down to earth. I knew from page one that I would fall in love with this novel and it did not disappoint me at all.
Jen Dixon is down right hilarious. The way Laurie develops her character, you feel instantly connected to her from page one. She is the type of person that you just want and need as a best friend. She is honest, loving but still full of adventure and life. You can relate to her struggles, her fears and her ambitions. She is just like every one of us, the parts of us we are afraid to show and the parts of us that we allow the world to see.
In this novel, we watch as Jen navigates the world of “Class Mom” (a title I didn’t know existed but for those of us who don’t know what a Class Mom is – they are sort of like the Teacher’s Assistant that connects with the parents in the class giving updates, getting people signed up for parties, trips, etc..). I still vividly remember my two years as Parent Council president and while I loved the role, it was the politics I couldn’t handle. The parents that complained but would never help, the parents that had been on the Council but would hold back information until the last-minute and the ones who just truly made your life miserable (but there were also the really amazing ones and the students who made it all worth it!). Toss this in with her preparation for a mud run, an old crush returning to her life and life itself and you have a story that is just downright funny and one that so many of us can relate to. Although I really wish I could have her humour and witty responses, I am definitely not quick enough on my feet to come back with some of those replies – it would have served me well as President and even in life in genera.
I fell in love with the way Laurie writes. It is a personal novel and I felt like I was able to really get to know Jen. She writes the same way as you would expect to have a conversation with your best friend. It was intimate, honest and funny. You feel as though you are there with Jen and her friends in each moment, each struggle and each adventure.
Class Mom is the must read book of the year. You will laugh, you will cry and you will not want to put it down.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Kobo, iBooks and Amazon.
Rating: 5/5 +++
About the Author
Laurie Gelman was born and raised in the Great White North. She spent twenty-five years as a broadcaster in both Canada and the United States before trying her hand at writing novels. Laurie lives in New York City with her husband, Michael Gelman, and two teenage daughters. Class Mom is her first book.
You can connect with Laurie on her website and Twitter.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 31, 2017
Carving out “Me” Time #StreamTeam
Our family life is hectic. Both of us work full-time (thankfully no more night shifts!), both of our boys play competitive soccer which means we are on the pitch four to five nights a week plus weekends, I am finally finishing up two diploma programs and my husband coaches too. I wouldn’t change our life for a second, I love watching the kids on the pitch, I love my work and I even love the non-stop moving but sometimes we just need a break.
With this go-go-go lifestyle, I find I am sometimes worn out, irritable and there are some nights I just crash on the bed exhausted at the end of the day not even wanting to move. Last week, both of my kids spent five days at their Grandparents house about an hour away from our home. While I cried the whole way home after dropping them off (completely irrational I know), after day one I realized this was just what I needed to recover from the busy lifestyle we were leading. Not only did we need it as parents, our kids needed it too.
While this is a bit of an extreme example, as I know most of us don’t leave our children at family for the week, taking a much-needed “me” time break is so important for both our physical and mental health. When Netflix asked Moms what this me time did for them, they received responses from it helped them to be a better parent to getting peace to decompress alone. Dads, I know you will feel the same too!
We know it’s important so how do we take it? Here are my tips for taking time for you!
Get Up a Little Bit Earlier Before Your Kids
While this may seem hard at first, trust me you will love it. My first hour of my day is time for just me, my coffee and catching up on my latest shows that are not kid friendly (i.e. Luther, Orange is the New Black, Grace and Frankie!). It gives me such a sense of peace and relaxation – it allows me to focus on the day ahead and unwind before it all starts. When I don’t get it, watch out! I feel like I am thrown off my game all day and I even find myself getting irritated at little things that normally wouldn’t bother me.
Take a Nice Hot Bath
We all deserve a nice hot soak in a bubble bath at the end of the day. Pour yourself a glass of wine, get the iPad out and lock that bathroom door – headphones are optional if you really want to unwind!
Go For Daily Walks
These walks don’t have to be long but just get out there. The physical activity will really help you de-stress and unwind after a busy day. I usually bring my kids along and we stop for ten minutes at the park. It goes a long way for both of us.
However you sneak in “me” time, there is no question about the importance of it. You deserve time alone, doing whatever you need to so that you can be a better parent and spouse. Whether it be catching up on your favourite Netflix hit or listening to music, you deserve that time so make sure you take it!
How do you take time out in your busy day for yourself?
Disclosure: I am a #StreamTeam member and receive perks with this affiliation. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 31, 2017
A Letter from Lancaster County Book Review
In A Letter from Lancaster County, two sisters get a second chance at life and love.
About A Letter from Lancaster County
Angela: Her mother’s untimely death, a struggling marriage, a strained relationship with her sister, Rose, and regrets over what might have been haunt her. Despite being a wife and mother, she feels she has little to show for her life
Rose: Still single, she longs for a husband and children. But Angela has all that and still isn’t happy. Rose wants to be closer to her older sister, but she and Angela couldn’t be more different. Both strong women, will their sibling rivalry ever end
When a letter arrives from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Angela and Rose decide to visit Aunt Silvia, their mother’s Mennonite sister, in the heart of Amish country. This vacation could provide the opportunity both sisters need to sort out their issues. And yet instead of finding a new way of connecting with each other, Angela and Rose discover surprising family secrets that add to their strife and threaten Rose’s romance with a new beau.
Through it all, the two sisters must find the faith necessary to face their personal problems and allow God to restore hope and healing to their hearts and relationship as only He can.
My Thoughts
In A Letter from Lancaster County, we find two sisters who are so far apart from each other that it hurts to watch their relationship at time. Both of them love each other so much but there are years of hurt, distrust, jealousy and regrets that have put up huge walls between the two of them. Their Mother’s death seems to be the icing on the cake for their relationship to spiral even further downwards.
When they receive a letter from their Aunt that they haven’t spoken to in years because of a strained relationship between their Father and their Mother’s family, they decide to visit her and the Amish town. It is here where they discover family secrets, the Mother they never truly knew and the family they were not allowed to really get to know.
We watch as the two sisters struggle not only with their past, their family but also with each other. They both have to come to terms with the unhappiness that is currently plaguing them in their life at home but also the past that is eating them up inside. A Letter from Lancaster County is a beautiful story of pain, regret, sister love, hope and faith. Even when we struggle and are in pain, we can always find a way to move forward if we have hope, faith and love in each other. It is a truly inspirational novel that you will love to read over and over again.
You can find more reviews on the Litfuse blog tour page. You can purchase a copy of the book here.
Rating: 4.5/5
About the Author
Kate Lloyd is a bestselling novelist whose books include “A Portrait of Marguerite” and the Legacy of Lancaster trilogy. A native of Baltimore, she enjoys spending time with friends and family in rural Pennsylvania and is a member of the Lancaster County Mennonite Historical Society. She now resides in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 26, 2017
Children’s Illustrated World Atlas #BackToSchoolDKCanada
Children love to learn about the world around them – the people, the culture and the wildlife in exciting new places. It is so important to fuel this love with exciting facts and colourful imagery to help draw them and DK Canada’s Children’s Illustrated World Atlas does this and more!
About Children’s Illustrated World Atlas
Children’s Illustrated World Atlas is a visual atlas that brings the world and its people to life with modern mapping, pictures, facts and stories.
Using modern mapping Children’s Illustrated World Atlas takes kids on the ultimate round-the-world trip, from the Americas to Australasia and Oceania.
Each detailed map is accompanied by pictures and stories that explore the society, culture, and history of each region, giving young readers an immediate sense of place not conveyed in standard atlases. Bite-size, country-by-country facts and stats are included at the start of each chapter for additional knowledge, and a place-name index identifies 7,500 locations around the world. Kids will even learn about popular discussion topics such as globalization and the environment in a contemporary introduction section.
Our Thoughts
As we begin purchasing back to school items, it is important to also keep in mind helpful tools and books that you can purchase to help your child before and during school. DK Canada’s Children’s Illustrated World Atlas is a beautiful, fully updated hard cover visual atlas that encourages children to learn more about the world around them.
The book is divided up first by continent and then again in each section by region (for example in Africa, the book examines North, Northeast, Central, West and Southern Africa). Each section has a map that shows mountain regions and key cities and provinces in each region. Each region has an introduction, roughly a couple of paragraphs long, followed by key imagery of the most important cultural, artifacts, festivals, diet, animals and more of each region.
The bright, bold colours of the print and images will help capture your child’s attention as they start their journey around the world (and maybe even pick several countries that they want to visit like ours did!). The back of the book includes a Gazetteer that holds all the key cities that are mentioned throughout the book and on what page it is mentioned on, so if your child wants to find information quick they can head to the back to find out exactly what they need.
The Children’s Illustrated World Atlas is a must have item in your back to school and home library collection! You can purchase a copy of Children’s Illustrated World Atlas on DK Canada.
Rating: 5/5
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.