April 7, 2020
The Mother: A Novel
A touching story of love, marriage, divorce, illness and starting over – The Mother will make you cry, laugh and be reminded of the most important things in life.
About The Mother
After her father’s death, 25-year old Helen Miller needs a fresh start. She finds a job that takes her to Paris. But when her charming new boss, the rich 45-year old Jake Klein, begins dating her, Helen can’t resist falling for him despite the age difference.
Shortly after a fairytale wedding, Helen discovers disturbing news about her husband’s past. Feeling homesick, dealing with a difficult pregnancy and her troubled marriage lead Helen to return to DC. She tries to start a new life with Jake and their daughter Daisy, but finds it impossible to ignore Jake’s infidelity. She divorces him not knowing she cannot escape Jake’s manipulative actions.
Daisy’s illness and an inexplicable turn of events force Helen to ignore Jake and concentrate only on her daughter’s happiness, not knowing that a new love is waiting for her in an unexpected place.
My Thoughts
I loved every moment of this emotionally charged and powerful novel, I could not put it down!
Helen is just like any Mom that you may know – she loves her child with all of her heart and would do anything to protect her. She showers her with unconditional love, supports her and would do anything for her daughter. Helen has not had an easy past – she was the caregiver for her dying father, she divorced her husband after finding out about his past and this has left a lasting mark on her. It has affected her relationship with her Mother, her relationships with others around her and I think even explains her personality and actions. Helen is a giver, she cares so much for others even at her own expense. When her daughter falls ill, Helen dives right in ready to fight for her daughter. She will do whatever it takes to see her daughter well and happy again. She does so even at the expense of her own health and at times you worry about Helen and want to reach out and give her a hug.
This is an amazing story of love, forgiveness and second chances. Helen is the type of person so many of us are – we give and give until we push ourselves to the point of exhaustion and illness. Helen is her daughter’s champion and will fight for her every step of the day. The two have their ups and downs in the book, sometimes making you cry but their relationship is strong and you know the two will get through it. I loved the story, the characters and how the emotions poured off the pages. At a time with so much uncertainty around this, this novel reminds us what is truly important – our health, our family and love. This is a definite must read novel.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
Rating: 5/5
About the Author
Farin Powell practices law in Washington, DC. In addition to many legal publications, she has published short stories and poems in various literary magazines and poetry anthologies. She is the author of the book of poetry A Piece of Heaven and the novels Two Weddings, and Roxana’s Revolution.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 31, 2020
Highland Sword Book Review
From USA Today bestselling author May McGoldrick comes Highland Sword, the third book in the Royal Highlander series.
About Highland Sword
Fleeing to the Highlands after her father’s murder, fiery Morrigan Drummond has a score to settle with Sir Rupert Burney, the English spymaster responsible for his death. Trained to fight alongside the other rebels determined to break Britain’s hold on Scotland, she swears to avenge her father’s death—until a chance encounter with a barrister as proud and principled as she is presents her with a hard choice…and a bittersweet temptation.
Aidan Grant has never encountered another woman like dangerous beauty Morrigan—and he has the bruises to prove it. Yet she could be the key to defending two innocent men, as well as striking a death blow to the reprehensible Burney. Convincing Morrigan to help him will take time, but Aidan is willing to wait if it means victory over corrupt government forces and freedom for his people…and Morrigan’s hand in marriage. Can two warriors committed to a cause stand down long enough to open their hearts to a love fierce enough to last…forever?
My Thoughts
I was introduced to this series of books a few months ago and fell in love with the strong female leads and the passionate plots. The stories takes place in Scotland during a time when England was doing everything they could to destroy their way of life. It is in this backdrop that we have a group of incredibly strong women ready to fight to maintain their way of life and beliefs. You don’t need to read the other books in this series to enjoy this one, but I would highly recommend it so that you gain a better understanding of the characters history and the way that they connect to each other.
Morrigan has seen many awful things in her young life, including the murder of her Father. She has vowed revenge and will stop at nothing. She is full of fire and determination, she has learned to fight and goes on many missions. It is this fierceness that tends to get her in trouble but is also what attracts Aidan to her.
Aidan is the calm in her storm. He is a barrister who fights for justice. He wants to see his people free and he will do anything within the law to ensure this. He falls for Morrigan but understands how vulnerable she is and how she has been hurt in the past. He is patient and kind – always in tune to her feelings and mindful of them (how can you not fall in love with his character!). He will do anything to protect her. Their feelings for each other evolves slowly and at times you worry that her past will prevent them from having a future together. This was a beautiful story during a time period that was not kind, that you will not want to put down.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon.
Rating: 4.5/5
About the Author
Authors Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick (writing as May McGoldrick) weave emotionally satisfying tales of love and danger. Publishing under the names of May McGoldrick and Jan Coffey, these authors have written more than thirty novels and works of nonfiction for Penguin Random House, Mira, HarperCollins, Entangled, and Heinemann. Nikoo, an engineer, also conducts frequent workshops on writing and publishing and serves as a Resident Author. Jim holds a Ph.D. in Medieval and Renaissance literature and teaches English in northwestern Connecticut. They are the authors of Much ado about Highlanders, Taming the Highlander, and Tempest in the Highlands with SMP Swerve.
Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 23, 2020
Explore Your Unconscious Mind with DK Canada: Dreams
Learn how to interpret your dreams and use your unconscious mind as a tool for self-help with this in-depth guide to dream analysis.
About Dreams
Have you ever dreamt you were being chased? How about a dream that your teeth were falling out? With an open mind and some guidance you will be able to shed light on how the images and emotions we experience in our sleep can be deeply connected to waking life.
Explore the psychological function and meaning of dreams, and learn to unlock their power for self-improvement. With interpretations of dream images and themes, Dreams will show you how to interpret and control your dreams to address issues and imbalances in your life, as well as improve your psychological wellbeing.
Find out how, when, and why we dream. Discover how to keep a dream diary, the significance of nightmares and recurring dreams, and the secrets of lucid dreams. Dream interpretation has been practiced around the world for years, and now you can learn how to decode your own dreams to find the personal messages, using your own dream journal.
My Thoughts
“Who looks outside, dreams; who looks insides, awakes” – Carl Jung, page 19 Dreams.
Dreams are one of those amazing topics that we love to talk about, that keep us up wondering and can also cause worry. I still remember when I woke up after a nightmare of my teeth falling out – I woke up in a sweat, feeling inside my mouth to ensure I still had all of my teeth. It left me with the most awful feeling for two days straight (and a constant fear that they were going to just start dropping out of my mouth!). I had no idea what brought on this irrational fear and why my mind for several days afterwards could not turn it off.
This book starts off by talking about the theory of dreams, healthy sleep, sleep hygiene, dream pioneers and dream skills. I liked learning about the history of dreams but I found the dream skills section very helpful. So many times, I wake up feeling anxious from a dream but I can’t recall my dreams or why I was left feeling this way. Or I will have a feeling of deja vu during the course of my day that has left me wondering, has this happened before in my dreams? I liked how it spoke about a journal and documenting important things in the dream like where are you, who is there, how do you feel and what events led up to the dream? All important factors when you are trying to recall your dreams. She also includes a few case studies to give you a better understanding of how to break down your dreams.
The dream directory is extensive but please be cautious. The author even gives a simple caution that sometimes, one size does not fit all. Dreams are not simple and need to be weighed based on your own history. The dream directory covers a range of topics including: people, childhood, sex, house, travel, places, pressure, loss, animals, nature and water. Each topic explained the dream and then had an action item below explaining what you may have been feeling and how to potentially interpret that dream.
This is a great starting point for those who love to try to decipher their own dreams (or want to start) or those who want to gain a better understanding of their emotions, their thoughts and how this impacts their sleep and their dreams.
“Dreams are today’s answers to tomorrow’s questions” – Edgar Cayce, page 189 Dreams.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Indigo.
About the Author
Rosie March-Smith is a registered psychotherapist with the UK Council for Psychotherapy and a Member Emeritus of the UK Association for Humanistic Psychology Practitioners. She has been in private practice for more than 20 years and works with dreams, Gestalt methods, psychodrama, and the transpersonal. A former journalist, she wrote internationally as a freelance contributor to newspapers and magazines, traveling widely to research articles on education and mental health issues. She is the author of two Open University publications on counseling skills and relationships.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 23, 2020
Explore the Science Behind Magic in DK Canada: Science is Magic
Discover the astounding science behind illusions and magic tricks.
About Science is Magic
Join comedian and author Steve Mould to find out the scientific secrets behind amazing magic tricks. Learn how to bend water with a balloon, how to create ghosts with mirrors, and how to turn water into juice. Packed with optical illusions, pranks, and fun facts, this book is a must-have for any aspiring scientist or magician.
Kids will love impressing their friends and families with simple magic tricks that teach them valuable science lessons at the same time. Each trick is explained using step-by-step photography, and the science behind each magic trick is explained clearly and simply. Interspersed throughout the book are profiles of famous magicians and illusionists, such as Harry Houdini and David Blaine, and stories of how they used science when performing their most famous tricks.
Our Thoughts
I think it is safe to say that the world that our kids knew only two weeks ago has been completely shaken. I know for myself that so many times in the last week, I have woken up thinking this must be a really bad nightmare and when will this end. I can’t even begin to imagine how this appears to our children, as they may be trying to understand the information and struggle with telling us how they feel.
I know that I have seen plenty of homeschool schedules circulating, learning plans and advice. In our home, we have decided not to do this with our youngest. We want to add some stability but we also appreciate that he is scared and missing his friends, family and soccer. We created a schedule with him that does include working through a math workbook, reading, soccer work outs and most importantly time to Facetime his family (I cannot wait for this all to end to give my parents and siblings a hug!).
For reading and science, we are looking for fun. I don’t want this to be feel like a chore for him and to be honest, one week into social distancing and ensuring we are staying at home, we are all cranky so adding more stress in to this mix will not be a good idea.
Science is Magic is the perfect resource for young children. It is full of facts, activities and real life examples. The book has special pages dedicated to science tricks, science wonders and pages called How Do They Do It? I was a bit nervous about the activities and what I would have to have on hand at home, but they were all items that you would have and wouldn’t mind sacrificing up in the name of science (except maybe the oil one!). Many needed paper, water, paper plates, cup, paper clips, etc.. Your child may need some help with them depending on their age but they were not difficult to complete, and to be honest it was a great break for us parents too (I think we all need a good daily laugh especially right now). I even enjoyed learning the science behind the tricks. Our personal favourite is magnetic fingers, we are still trying to prove it wrong! Not only does the book contain great activities but they can also read through it like a regular book and learn about things like Houdini, reading minds, cosmic auroras and rocky mysteries.
Science is Magic will be a great resource for parents as we navigate these difficult times. It is full of exciting science topics that will engage your child and keep learning fun, especially during a time when everything feels overwhelming. You don’t need to buy extra supplies or waste food supplies to complete the experiments (a huge bonus right now as we try to conserve as much as possible). And most importantly, it gives parents and their kids a great break from their new daily routine to just have fun.
You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Indigo.
About the Author
Steve Mould is a science expert and comedian with a physics degree from the University of Oxford. He has a YouTube channel with over 200,000 subscribers, and his videos regularly achieve hits in the hundreds of thousands. One of these videos (about “self-siphoning beads”) went viral worldwide, gaining nearly 2 million hits and being mentioned in The New York Times and on the BBC. Scientists later discovered why the beads performed in the mysterious way they did and dubbed it “The Mould Effect.” Steve also hosts a radio show on BBC Radio 4 and is part of the live comedy/science trio Festival of the Spoken Nerd.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
March 23, 2020
GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are Spotlight Tour
Every twenty years a new generation rises, but who and what defines these generations?
About GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are
Every twenty years a new generation rises, but who and what defines these generations? And could current generational tags mislead and miss the point? In this insightful analysis of technology history since 1900, Dr. Rick Chromey offers a fresh perspective for understanding what makes a generation tick and differ from others. Within GenTech, readers learn how every generation uniquely interacts with particular technologies that define historical temperament and personality and why current generational labels are more fluid than fixed, and more loopy than linear. Consequently, three major generational constellations emerge, each containing four, twenty-year generations that overlap, merge, and blend:
- The Audio Generations (1900-1950): Transportation-Telephone Generation (1900-1920), Motion Picture Generation (1910-1930), Radio Generation (1920-1940), Vinyl Record Generation (1930-1950)
- The Visual Generations (1940-1990): Television Generation (1940-1960), Space Generation (1950-1970), Gamer Generation (1960-1980) and Cable Television Generation (1970-1990)
- The Digital Generations (1980-2000): Personal Computer-Cell Phone Generation (1980-2000), Net Generation (1990-2010), iTech Generation (2000-2020), and Robotics Generation (2010-2030). Dive in and revel in this exciting, compelling, and novel perspective to understanding recent American generations with GenTech.
You can pre-order this book on Amazon, Indiebound and Indigo.
About the Author
Rick Chromey is a cultural explorer, social historian and generational futurist. He’s also served as a pastor, professor, speaker/trainer, and consultant. In 2017, he founded MANNA! Educational Services International to inspire and equip leaders, teachers, pastors, and parents. Rick has a doctorate in leadership and the emerging culture; and travels the U.S. and world to speak on culture, faith, history, education, and leadership topics. He has authored over a dozen books on leadership, natural motivation, creative communication, and classroom management. He lives with his wife, Linda, in Meridian, Idaho.
Connect with him on his website, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
The Giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclosure: This is a spotlight tour. I did not receive compensation for this post.