I Feel So Unnecessary

Book Review: Of Spice and Men by Sarah Fox

2017-11-09T18:59:00.001-05:00

Of Spice and Men: A Pancake House Mystery
By Sarah Fox
Genre: Mystery

Synopsis:
With a Hollywood film crew in town to shoot a remake of the horror classic The Perishing, the residents of Wildwood Cove are all abuzz. Even Marley McKinney, owner of The Flip Side Pancake House, can overlook the fact that the lead actress, Alyssa Jayde, happens to be an old flame of her boyfriend. After all, the crew loves Marley’s crêpes—so much so that Christine, the head makeup artist, invites her onset for a behind-the-scenes tour. But when Marley arrives, the special-effects trailer is on fire . . . with Christine inside.

The cops quickly rule Christine’s death a murder, and Alyssa a suspect. Marley’s boyfriend insists that the actress is innocent, but when Marley sticks her nose into the complicated lives of The Perishing’s cast and crew, she discovers more questions than answers. It seems that everyone has a hidden agenda—and a plausible motive. And as the horror spills over from the silver screen, Marley gets a funny feeling that she may be the killer’s next victim.
My Review:
While I thought the book started off slowly it quickly picked up and I found myself enjoying an engaging mystery. The characters were relatable and I liked the setting and plot. I ended up liking the book very much.
☺☺☺

Lisa

A Review of Barbra Streisand on the Couch by Alma Bond, Ph.D.

2017-11-01T01:44:00.000-04:00

Barbra Streisand: on the Couch Web Tour Schedule

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 19 Giveaway
Gayle Books Reviews Etc Oct 20 Review
Dawn Bound 2 Escape Oct 24 Excerpt & Giveaway
Sal Bound 4 Escape Oct 24 Review
Patricia Reviews by Room With Books Oct 27 Review, Excerpt & Giveaway
Katy Amazon Review Oct 30 Review
Lisa I Feel So Unnecessary Nov 1 Review
Kristin Second Book to the Right Nov 7 Review & Excerpt
Vicki I'd Rather Be Reading At The Beach Nov 13 Review &and ; Giveaway
Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 22 Review
Greg Amazon Review Nov 30 Review
*This schedule is subject to change.

Barbra Streisand on the Couch
By Alma Bond, Ph.D.

Publisher: Bancroft Press (Oct 1, 2017)
Category: Literary Fiction, Celebrities, Barbra Streisand
Tour dates: Oct/Nov, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-61088-211-8
Available in Print, 308 pages

About the book:
We all know Barbra, the star, but how well do we know Barbra, the woman? In the latest installment of my On the Couch series, Dr. Darcy Dale, a renowned, pioneering Manhattan psychiatrist, is confronted by Barbra, who is dismayed after thirty years of minimally successful therapy. Over the course of a year, Dr. Dale conducts an intimate psychoanalysis, breaking through Barbra’s defense mechanisms and repressions to delve deep into the heart and mind of one of America’s last remaining superstars.

Published at the same time as Streisand’s own, long awaited memoir, Barbra Streisand: On the Couch is an essential companion, a sensitive, objective, pitch-perfect opportunity to look behind the voice and image, and to understand and fully appreciate Barbra Streisand, the human being.

My Review:

This was a cleverly written book. I'd never read a biography quite like is before and I found it to be different and intriguing. The author captured the spirit of her subject very well. I felt as if I was in the room with them. It was well written and kept my attention , so... I'm giving it:

😀 👍

“This will appeal to anyone who enjoys discovering information about such a celebrity, how she feels about the ups and downs of her life, and other juicy details of her storied sex life and stellar career. [...] The book has a can't-put-it-down quality; the juiciness of the gossip, the emotional insights into her joy and pain, and the remarkable triumphs and failures of her long career are completely fascinating. Although the book is fiction, the author lists in a bibliography the numerous books and articles from which she garnered the very factual events and many of Miss Streisand's own words from interviews that she used to create the sessions..."

I’ve been a fan of Bond’s On the Couch series for years, but this one is absolutely her best. Barbra Streisand--with all her foibles and charms--comes alive on the pages of this book. Bond digs deep into Streisand’s psyche to give the reader a close-up look at a mega-star.
Instead of a tell-all novel that dishes out the dirt on her many costars, we follow along with Streisand as she herself recounts her many projects, affairs, and early history. Instead of a public relations–approved biography that glosses over Streisand’s need to be in control of her projects, this book revels in it, explores the reasons for a demanding actor/musician/director to behave as she does, shows the reader just how dedicated to her craft Streisand is.
If you’re a fan of her acting, her music, her career, or her activism, this is definitely a book you should read. Even if you’re not a fan, chances are you will be by the time you finish this book.
Award winning author, Alma Halbert Bond received her Ph.D. from Columbia University, and became a highly successful psychoanalyst in private practice for 37 years in New York City. She "retired" to become a full-time writer. Barbra Streisand: On the Couch is currently in production with Bancroft Press, who publish the On the Couch series.

Hillary Clinton: On the Couch was published a few months ago, and received a Best Books Award Finalist book award. Jackie O: On the Couch, the first of her On the Couch series to be published by Bancroft Press, was published on August 15, 2011, and received a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Best Books Award Finalist USA Book News, and International Book Awards Finalist. . Margaret Mahler, a Biography of the Psychoanalyst was published by McFarland Press in 2008. It received two awards, Best Books Award Finalist USA Book News and Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist.

Michelle Obama, a Biography, was recently published by Greenwood Press. Dr. Bond has had 20 other books published.

Among other organizations, Dr. Bond is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the Dramatists Guild, PEN, the International Psychoanalytic Association, and the American Psychological Association. She taught psychoanalysis at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research, where she is a fellow, and also has been a faculty member of WritersSchool, where she taught Psychology and Literature.

almabondauthor.com
https://www.facebook.com/AlmaHBond
https://twitter.com/almabond

Lisa

Paxil and Prayer

2017-07-18T22:17:00.000-04:00

It's been a year. A year since the depression and panic attacks I've had off and on since I was a teenager came back. And boy, did they come back with a vengeance.
"Hey Lisa, did ya miss us?"
"Uh. No."

My life can be stressful at times, trying to work and trying to help family members. Usually I handle it pretty well. But a perfect storm of BAD STUFF kept happening- a car accident, job loss, an unexpected death of a close friend.

The night my husband and I found out our friend had passed away is the night I had my first panic attack in about 10 years. I had instances where panic attacks would want to bubble up but I was able to control them. Not this time. They were making up for being kept down so long. It actually wasn't panic attacks, it was more of a continuous onslaught. Then the depression set in. Yay!

My husband, whom I help care for took care of me. I clung to him. He took me for car rides because they'd temporarily calm me down. He'd leave the light on because I was afraid of the dark. Listen to my obsessive rantings.

My poor cat started acting anxious and also started clinging to my husband. She'd jump on me for a second- I guess to see how I was doing and then go sit on him.

I wanted to die, yet afraid I was going to. Slept a lot because the pain and terror went away. Didn't eat much. Didn't lose weight (crud). My husband suggested I see my doctor and maybe go back on an antidepressant. This time I didn't argue with him.

So, I went back on Paxil. It had helped me before, even though I'm not a big fan of taking medication. I thought it was never going to work. "PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE let it work", I would pray. I also asked for a lot of prayer and I'm not usually one to do that. And not long after asking I felt a little better. And a few weeks later, the meds kicked in and I felt more normal. Not 100% but maybe 75%. And after I started acting less anxious my cat started acting less anxious.

I still have bad days but at least I can function normally. OK. Normal for me, because, let's be honest; I am a little odd.

And I owe my sense of almost normalcy to Paxil and prayer.

A Review and Giveaway Too of Ashes by Steven Manchester

2017-04-21T00:10:00.001-04:00

Ashes by Steven Manchester
Book Details
Genre: Fiction
Published by: The Story Plant
Publication Date: February 21st 2017
Number of Pages: 260

Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Ashes-Steven-Manchester/dp/1611882427
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ashes-steven-manchester/1124072813?ean=9781611882421
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30775537-ashes

Synopsis:

Middle-aged brothers Jason and Tom Prendergast thought they were completely done with each other. Perceived betrayal had burned the bridge between them, tossing them into the icy river of estrangement. But life – and death – has a robust sense of irony, and when they learn that their cruel father has died and made his final request that they travel together across the country to spread his ashes, they have no choice but to spend a long, long car trip in each other's company. It's either that or lose out on the contents of the envelope he's left with his lawyer. The trip will be as gut-wrenching as each expects it to be . . . and revealing in ways neither of them is prepared for.

At turns humorous, biting, poignant, and surprisingly tender, Ashes puts a new spin on family and dysfunction with a story that is at once fresh and timelessly universal.

Excerpt | Ashes by Steven Manchester

Tom wheeled his late-model, platinum-colored BMW into Attorney Russell Norman’s freshly paved lot and parked between a brand new Lexus—sporting the license plate JUSTIS4U—and a custom pickup truck. Looks like I’m going after the hillbilly, he thought when he spotted the faded Massachusetts Department of Correction sticker in the rear window. His blood turned cold. “It must be Jason,” he thought aloud. I didn’t think he’d come.

Tom took a few deep breaths, not because he was nervous about his father’s death or talking to any lawyer but because he hadn’t seen his Neanderthal brother—for fifteen years, I think. He paused for a moment to give it more thought. Although their relationship had essentially vaporized in their late teens—the result of a fall out that still haunted his dreams—they’d occasionally wound up in each other’s orbits; weddings, funerals, and the like, enough to remain familiar with each other’s career choices, wives, and children. But even that came to an end fifteen years ago, he confirmed in his aching head before opening the door. While his toothache-induced migraine threatened to blind him, he took one step into the oak-paneled waiting room. His and Jason’s eyes met for the briefest moment. As though they were complete strangers, they both looked away. And here he is, Tom thought, disappointed. This is just great.

Through peripheral vision, Tom noticed that his older brother now wore a scar over his right eye, just above a bushy eyebrow that could have easily belonged to a homeless Scotsman. A jagged ear lobe, a piece clearly torn away, pointed to a crooked nose that sat sideways on his face—all of it rearranged since birth. What a big tub of shit he’s turned into, Tom thought, struggling to ignore his throbbing face and head. He’s as fat as a wood tick now, he thought, grinning, and he looks like he’s ready to pop. Jason looked straight at him, as if reading his mind. Tom immediately looked away, his rapid heartbeat starting to pound in his ears, intensifying his physical pain. Unbelievable, he thought. After all the years and all the distance, his elder brother—by only two years—still scared the hell out of him. He’s just a big asshole, that’s all, he told himself, but he still couldn’t bring himself to rejoin his brother’s penetrating gaze.

The secretary answered her phone before calling out, “Mr. Prendergast . . .”

Both brothers stood.

“Attorney Norman will see you now.”

Tom walked in first, letting the door close behind him—right in Jason’s face.

“Still a weasel,” Jason muttered, loud enough for all to hear.

“What was that?” Tom asked just inside the door.

“Don’t even think about playing with me,” Jason warned as he reopened the door and entered the room, “’cause I have no problem throwing you over my knee and spanking you right in front of this guy.”

I’m fifty years old, for God’s sake, Tom thought, and he thinks he’s going to spank me? I’m surprised the prison even let him out.

The attorney—his hand extended for anyone willing to give it a shake—looked mortified by the childish exchange.

Tom shook the man’s hand before settling into a soft leather wing chair. Jason followed suit.

The room was framed in rich mahogany paneling. The desk could have belonged in the oval office. Beneath a green-glassed banker’s lamp, stacks of file folders took up most of the vast desktop. An American flag stood in one corner, while framed diplomas and certificates, bearing witness to the man’s intelligence and vast education, covered the brown walls.

Attorney Norman wore a pinstriped shirt and pleated, charcoal-colored slacks held up by a pair of black suspenders. He had a bow tie, a receding hairline that begged to be shaved bald, and a pair of eyeglasses that John Lennon would have been proud to call his own. There’s no denying it, Tom thought, trying to ignore his brother’s wheezing beside him, he’s either a lawyer or a banker. He couldn’t be anything else.

While Jason squirmed in his seat, visibly uncomfortable to be sitting in a lawyer’s office, his hands squeezed the arms of the chair. What a chicken shit, Tom thought, trying to make himself feel better. Peering sideways, he noticed that his brother’s knuckles were so swollen with scar tissue they could have belonged to a man who made his living as a bare-knuckle brawler. He’s still an animal too, he decided.

Attorney Norman took a seat, grabbed a manila file from atop the deep stack and cleared his throat. “The reason you’re both here . . .”

“. . . is to make sure the old man’s really dead,” Jason interrupted.

In spite of himself and his harsh feelings for his brother, Tom chuckled—drawing looks from both men.

“The reason we’re all here,” Attorney Norman repeated, “is to read Stuart Prendergast’s last will and testament.” He flipped open the folder.

This ought to be good, Tom thought, while Jason took a deep breath and sighed heavily. Both brothers sat erect in their plush chairs, waiting to hear more.

As if he were Stuart Prendergast sitting there in the flesh, the mouthpiece read, “My final wish is that my two sons, Jason and Thomas, bring my final remains to 1165 Milford Road in Seattle, Washington, where they will spread my ashes.”

“Seattle?” Tom blurted, his wagging tongue catching his tooth, making him wince in pain. Quickly concealing his weakness, he slid to the edge of his seat. “Oh, I don’t think so,” he mumbled, careful not to touch the tooth again.

Jason was shaking his head. “Hell no,” he said.

The attorney read on. “I’ve always been afraid to fly, so I’m asking that I not be transported by airplane but driven by car.”

“No way,” Tom instinctively sputtered.

Jason laughed aloud. “This is just great. The old bastard’s dead and he’s still screwing with us.”

The less-than-amused attorney revealed a sealed envelope and continued on. “As my final gift to my sons . . .”

“Only gift,” Tom muttered, feeling a cauldron of bad feelings bubbling in his gut.

“I’m leaving this sealed envelope for them to share, once and only once they’ve taken me to my final resting place.”

“What the fuck!” Jason blurted.

Every cell in Tom’s overloaded brain flashed red. Don’t do it, he thought. You don’t owe that old man a damned thing. But every cell in his body was flooded with curiosity. He looked at Jason, who was no longer shaking his fat head.

“Maybe the bastard finally hit it big at the dog track?” Jason suggested.

Tom nodded in agreement but secretly wondered, Could it be the deed to the land Pop bragged about owning in Maine? He stared at the envelope. For as long as I can remember, he claimed to own forty-plus acres with a brook running straight through it. He stared harder. Could it be? he wondered, wishing he had X-ray vision. A parcel of land in Maine sure would make a nice retirement . . .

“How ’bout we travel separately and meet in Seattle to spread the ashes?” Jason said, interrupting his thoughts.

“Great idea,” Tom said, hoping against all hope that the idea would fly with their father’s lawyer.

Attorney Norman shook his head. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but your father specifically requested that you travel together with his remains to Seattle. Any deviation from this can and will prohibit you from attaining the sealed envelope.”

There was a long pause, the room blanketed in a heavy silence. Son of a bitch, Tom thought, this couldn’t have come at a worse time. He turned to Jason, who was already looking at him. “What do you say?” he asked, already cursing his inability to curb his curiosity.

Jason shook his head in disgust. “The last thing I want to do is to go on some stupid road trip with you.”

“Trust me, that’s a mutual feeling,” Tom shot back.

“But I don’t think we have a choice,” Jason added. “Our fucked-up father wants to play one last game with us, so to hell with it—let’s play.”

This is insane, but he’s right, Tom thought. With a single nod, Tom stood. “Okay, let’s have the ashes then,” he told the lawyer.

The attorney shook his head. “I don’t have them. They’re currently at a funeral home in Salem.”

“Salem?” Tom squeaked, unhappy that his tone betrayed his distress.

“That’s right. You have to take custody of your father’s remains from the Buffington Funeral Home in Salem, Massachusetts.”

“You must be shitting me.” Jason said.

The attorney smirked. “I shit you not,” he said, throwing the letter onto his desk.

Salem? Tom repeated in his head. Just when I thought Pop couldn’t be a bigger prick . . . The migraine knocked even harder from the inside of his skull, making him feel nauseous. Amid the pain, his synapses fired wildly, considering all this would mean: I’ll have to take bereavement leave from school and find someone to cover my classes. I should probably double my treatment with Dr. Baxter tomorrow. And what about Caleb and Caroline? he asked himself, quickly deciding, They’ll be fine without me for a few days. Then he pictured his wife’s face. And Carmen, she’ll be fine without me for a lot longer than that. The nausea increased. Screw her.

“Are we done here?” Jason asked, obviously itching to leave.

The lawyer nodded. “I’ll need proof in the form of a video or a series of photos that you’ve deposited your father’s remains where he wished. Once I have that, the letter’s all yours.”

“How wonderful,” Jason said sarcastically. He stood, turned on his heels, and headed for the door.

Tom also got to his feet. He looked at the lawyer and, trying to ignore his physical discomfort, he smiled. “Don’t mind him,” he said, shrugging. “That imbecile is exactly what our father trained him to be.”

My Review:

I thought the father's wishes was clever- the way it brought the brothers together. It was funny and smart. The characters were realistic and the story engaging. So, I give it a:

👍

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway

This is a rafflecopter giveaway hosted by Providence Book Promotions for Steven Manchester and The Story Plant. There will be 5 US winners of one (1) PRINT copy of Ashes by Steven Manchester. The giveaway begins on February 18th and runs through April 23rd, 2017.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Steven Manchester is the author of the #1 bestsellers Twelve Months, The Rockin’ Chair, Pressed Pennies, and Gooseberry Island as well as the novels Goodnight, Brian and The Changing Season. His work has appeared on NBC’s Today Show, CBS’s The Early Show, CNN’s American Morning, and BET’s Nightly News. Recently, three of Manchester’s short stories were selected “101 Best” for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Find Steven on his Website, on Twitter, & on Facebook!

Lisa

I Don't Understand Grunts

2017-04-20T18:37:00.000-04:00

(Image courtesy of michaeljfox.org)

My husband has dystonia. I usually describe it as being similiar to Parkinson's Disease. He has trouble moving and on a rainy, yucky day like today his movements get even slower. Luckier, I was here and was able to pop some pills in him.
We have our own way of communicating. He grunts. Usually he gets his message across but for some reason today my mind and body didn't want to work.
"Can you move?", I asked.
" Rye wront know."
"Do you need a pill?"
He manages to shrug his shoulders.
"I'm giving you a pill."
"Uh."
"Do you have water?"
"Uh."
"What?"
"Uhhhh."
"Sorry. I don't understand grunts."
He doesn't. I get him some.
I give him one pill. I go to give him more and in a sequence of tongue clicks, eye blinks, and lots of uhhhs- he gets the message conveyed.
It takes just a few minutes for him to start moving again. For the most part I understand him. Me being largely uncommunicative my whole life helps. Wouldn't hurt to brush up, though.

The Holy Grail of Hardware Stores

2016-08-29T21:14:00.000-04:00

My husband had a doctor's appointment a few days ago and afterwards I asked him if he wanted to go anywhere else. He wasn't sure and then I reminded him that a new hardware store was open.
"Ooh. Let's go there", he exclaimed.
"Ok."
Cause, ya know, tools are da bomb.
So my first impression was that it was shiny and that most of the things in there I had no clue what they were. But the husband was happy.
"What's this?", I asked.
"It's a wrench."
"Oh. I just liked it cause it's the color of The Hulk."
Then he started explaining some thingabobby to me:
"Yeah. I don't really know what you're saying but that's ok. I'm tired. I think I'm gonna sit down."
"Can you sit in it or is it on display?"
"Uh. I'm gonna sit in it. I'll tell em I'm trying it out."
"Oh. It has a tray."
"Ooh. An armrest."
"I think that's to set drinks on."
"Right now it's an armrest."
And then I saw it...the Holy Grail. A box of 500 disposable gloves for $7.99.
And that made it all worthwhile.

A Review of My Darling Dorothy by Jo Virden

2016-08-10T22:16:00.001-04:00

My Darling Dorothy

By Jo Burden

Historical Romance

398 pages

The bundle of old letters, carefully tied with a blue ribbon, that Jo Virden discovered among some dusty boxes in her mother’s basement held a mystery: Who were the young soldiers whose letters her mother had saved all these years, and what happened to them?

Based on these very letters from the era,My Darling Dorothy is a timeless love story that transcends both hard times and the brutal impact of war. The tumult of the Great Depression and World War II provides the background for a novel about three young people; Tommie, Jack and Dorothy and their challenges, struggles, defeats and triumphs. Tommie struggles to survive the Bataan Death March in the fall of 1941, clinging to his dream of a gratifying future with Dorothy as his bride. On the frontlines of the European Theatre, Jack experiences the horrors of endless battle. Dorothy, caught between the two, works to maintain her dream of a life beyond small-town Nebraska. The hopes and hardships they share are reflected in the letters that they exchange. Are they remnants of lost dreams, or the foundation for a joyful future?

My Review:

A compelling story with engaging characters. I felt I was there with everyone in the story. It kept me engaged and I enjoyed reading it.

4 stars

http://www.jovirden.com/

Generations

2016-06-23T17:27:00.004-04:00

A little over four years ago my grandmother passed away. My husband and I then moved in with my grandfather. My mother lived in an apartment downstairs. In addition to my mother and grandfather I also helped take care of my grandmother for nine years. Others started having health problems so I started helping them as well.

Moving in with family members has its' advantages: it helped us save money, my grandfather had someone with him, we got to spend more time with family, etc. Now, it also has its' drawbacks: we get to spend more time with family, old issues arise, lack of privacy, it's harder to find an escape when a loved one starts to drive you crazy...

But overall, living in a multi-generational household is rewarding ( most of the time). If someone gets sick you're there so you don't have to worry about rushing to your relative in time of need. You make the most of being around them before their gone. Also it helps people with their expenses when they're on a fixed income.

While it can be stressful at times ( believe me), for the most part it's an experience I'll cherish for the rest of my life.

Book Review of Obama's Odyssey

2016-05-04T23:51:00.000-04:00

Obama's Odyssey: The 2008 Race for the White House
By: Connie Corcoran Wilson
Publisher:Quad City Press (September 3, 2015)
Category: U.S. Federal Government, 21st Century, Politics
ISBN-13: 978-0692527382
ASIN: B015AOH9DQ
Tour Date: April/May
Available in: Print and ebook, 282 Pages

Obama's Odyssey: The 2008 Race for the White House is a reporter's-eye view of events unfolding in 2007 and 2008 as Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Joe Biden, Christopher Dodd, Bill Richardson (et al.) jockeyed for position for the Democratic nomination for president, while John McCain, Rick Santorum, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and others attempted to wrest control of the Republican nomination for their party. All ran for President in a wide-open free-for-all following the end of George W. Bush's 8 years in office.

Author Connie (Corcoran) Wilson, a veteran reporter for five newspapers and numerous blogs, followed the candidates from the Iowa caucuses all the way through to the convention (Volume I) and, after that, from the convention through the tumultuous presidential campaign itself (Volume II), until President Barack Obama's Inauguration as the 44th President of the United States in January of 2009 (covered in Volume II).

Writing as a member of the Yahoo Content Contributors' Network, retired sixty-something schoolteacher Wilson set off on an adventurous odyssey of her own that earned her the title 2008 Content Producer of the Year for Politics with 1,000 articles that garnered over three million hits. Filing three articles daily from the field, her adventures inside the Democratic National Convention in Denver, the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, the Ron Paul Rally for the Republic in Minneapolis, the Belmont Town Hall Meeting in Nashville or elsewhere (Florida, Nevada, etc.) are detailed, insightful and, at times, humorous.

The parallels and insights gleaned from following the presidential campaign in 2008 provide useful background material for the presidential race of 2016 now underway--with some of the same candidates that ran 8 years ago in the field again today. Never one to ignore an amusing anecdote or photo, the quotes, facts and polling data are only one small component of an engrossing read with multiple pictures that sum up the end of an era in presidential campaigns as the use of the Internet and the increasing importance of money in campaigning are clearly cataloged.

If you are a Progressive, Independent or simply a Democrat with a sense of humor, this book is for you! An entertaining, informative and relevant slice of recent history.

Praise for Obama's Odyssey by Connie Corcoran Wilson

"Not many people get to have a behind the scenes glimpse of what goes on in a campaign. And, sometimes when we do read accounts, they are partisan. This book is different.
The author travels as a reporter, covering different candidates, in different locales, letting us into those grueling, exciting days in 2008. This is a collection of live articles written by a reporter covering the possibility of the first woman President and the first Black President."-Sharon A. Mitchell, Amazon Reviewer

"I loved this and can't wait for Wilson's next great project." - �Rose Richmond, Yahoo Contributor

"The election of Barack Hussein Obama in 2008 was politically startling. It captured the imagination of a nation in a way that no other political event ever did or ever will.... As his double term as President of the United States comes to an end, there is no better time to reacquaint oneself with Obama's campaign trail, one of the most unbelievable sojourns in American history."- Bonnie McGrath, Chicago lawyer, Blogger, 燼nd award-winning journalist

About Connie Corcoran Wilson

Connie Corcoran Wilson is the award winning author of 'The Color Of Evil' series and the 'Hellfire and Damnation' Series. Book 3,�'Khaki=Killer' was named one of the Top Indie Thrillers of 2015 in the Dec./Jan. issue of Shelf Unbound magazine from among 12,000+ entries and one of her children's books was named one of the Best� Books of 2014 by the Chicago Writers' Association, while the Chicago chapter of the Illinois Press Women named Wilson their Silver Feather winner in 2012 and 2014.

Wilson爄s a University of Iowa grad in Journalism and English�(additional study at Western Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, the University of Chicago and Berkeley)燼nd a college professor with 6 decades爋f writing experience. She has written for 5 newspapers and many燽logs, founded�3 businesses, plays 4 musical instruments, and has 2 children (born 19 years apart).

She followed the '04, '08 and '12 presidential campaigns "live" for Yahoo, which named her its Content Producer of the燳ear for Politics in 2009.燬he is sometimes referred to as T.Q. (Trivia Queen) from her misspent hours in the British Pub Quiz room on AOL. She blogs at www.WeeklyWilson.com and maintains 4 ongoing fiction series while also爓riting about爊onfiction subjects.(politics and movies).

Connie燼lso has 7-year-old twin granddaughters who are great fun and for whom and with whom she writes the Christmas Cats series (www.TheXmasCats.com).

Connie on Twitter:�https://twitter.com/ConnieCWilson

Connie on Facebook:�https://www.facebook.com/pages/Connie-Corcoran-Wilson/275020829241869
Connie on Pinterest:�http://pinterest.com/conniecwilson/C
onnie of Google+:�https://plus.google.com/u/0/101447920077310676402

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Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus April 15 Interview, & Giveaway

Marianne Archuleta Apr 18 Review

BJ Apr 19 Review

Teepee12 (Serendipity) Apr 20 Review, Interview & Giveaway

BookSpin Apr 21 Review

Mandre Apr 22 Review

Mandy Apr 26 Review

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Apr 27 Review

Dr. Bill's Book Bazaar May 2 Review

I feel so unnecessary May 5 Review

My review:

I found it to be a well written book. It was written in a way that was easily understandable and it kept my attention. It was a nice glimpse into a fascinating character. I recommend it.

💠 💠 💠 💠

My Cat is a Republican

2016-02-14T11:29:00.001-05:00

As far as politics go I tend to be slightly left of center. Though I am conservative in some ways. My cat, Sabrina, however, tends to lean more towards the right.

Yes. My cat is a Republican. While I believe in providing aid to those less fortunate my cat thinks they need to pull themselves up by their pawstraps. She wants Caticare and Caticaid to be cut. She believes that kitty stamps should be restricted to buy Meow Mix and not luxuries like catnip. If a cat can afford caticures and cattoos then they shouldn't be on public assistance.

I've tried to explain to her that kitty stamps cover very little and don't get a cat through the month but she just turns her head and goes back to reading Ayn Rand.

I'll keep trying to sway her but she can be one stubborn kitty. But I'm for sure getting rid of the Donald Trump poster.

Review of Tall Tail by Rita Mae and Sneaky Pie Brown

2016-02-07T21:19:00.002-05:00

Tall Tail (Mrs. Murphy #25)
To be published May 2016
Genre: Mystery
352 pages

I received a complimentary copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Still a little too preachy but kept my interest. I enjoyed the historical aspect of it. I do wish she'd bring back some of the older characters. Overall I enjoyed it.

😀😀😀

Lisa

I Keep Trying

2015-09-22T15:10:00.000-04:00

It starts with losing interest in activities I once enjoyed. Then the crying at inconvenient moments comes on. That's fun. Then the irrability kicks in. That's fun too. It affects my work and my life.

Stress and depression. One leads to the other. Makes life, um, interesting. I've struggled with it for a long time. I quit living because of it. Quit school. Quit work. I didn't like doing it but in my opinion if you can't handle something and it starts to affect the people around you- it's time to step back and get some help. ( Sorry for the run-on sentence, I'm bad for that.)

Annnnyway... I do have a point. For the two people who know and have read my book I've been a caregiver for a long time. Since my 20s. Parents, Grandparents, The Husband- yes, that's his name.
It's an honor and a privilege. I like doing it, I'm glad I can. I've learned a lot, grown in many ways.

It can also be a bitch. Sorry. But it can. The hospitalizations, the various health problems, navigating the medical field where medical professionals are incompetent, lazy. or both. Navigating the insurance field where the, uh, insurance people are incompetent, lazy, or both. Quitting work because you can't handle both. Going back to work because you're so far under the poverty line you can't even see it. Feeling guilty for going back to work. Wondering if you can handle both and PLEASE God, don't let me snap and kill someone.

Fun thoughts floating around, ain't they?

I usually handle it well, I'm meaner and tougher than I look. Wait... no I'm not. But for someone prone to depression- one who at times has mini-breakdowns- it's important to take care of yourself.

Right now I'm fighting it. I don't want to get depressed again. Sleeping all the time sounds like fun but it really ain't. So here's what I do:

1. Take Paxil.
2. Keep faith.
3. Take Paxil.
4. Take time for yourself- go to the movies, go out to eat, talk to friends.
5. Take Paxil.
6. Stay healthy- eat right, exercise. Don't go overboard on the freakin' Doritos. ( But it's so much cheesy goodness!)

If you can't function, you can't help others. So keep trying, keep fighting, and everything will work out.

That's what I do.

Wilderness Rising: A Church Builder Novel

2015-07-12T21:10:00.000-04:00

Wilderness Rising: A Church Builder Novel
By: A.L. Shields
Genre: Christian/ Thriller
Publisher: Zondervan, 2015
352 pages

Beth Barclay is on the run from The Wilderness- a powerful cabal bent on ruining Christianity. They murdered her best friend, framed her, and kidnapped a teenager she was protecting. To get the girl back Beth must find the Pilate Stone, a relic from the federal century that might not even exist. But she's not the only one searching for it. Will she find it, save her friend, and defeat the Wilderness?

A thrilling adventure with fully realized characters that keeps you on the edge of your seat. So, I'm giving it...

3 stars

LISA

A Book Review and Giveaway of We Know How This Ends: Living While Dying by Bruce H. Kramer with Cathy Wurzer

2015-07-11T14:39:00.000-04:00

Genre: Non-fiction/Memoir
208 pages
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press, 2015

In this moving memoir Bruce Kramer writes of his life after being diagnosed with ALS. He decided to live life even though he was facing death.

Cathy Wurzer's was facing her own struggles as her father was descending into dementia. Together, they teamed up to write this amusing, uplifting, and wholly gratifying memoir. I recommend it.

4 stars

( Author photos courtesy of Michael Ekern, University of St. Thomas and MPR News)

Three signed copies of the book are being given away. To enter just leave your name and e-mail in the comments.

Lisa

The Turkish Connection by Rik Stone

2015-05-31T13:08:00.000-04:00

The Turkish Connection
By Rik Stone
Genre: Thriller
298 pages

It's 1951 and Mehmet has lost both of his parents. He lives on.the streets of Istanbul forced to be a thief. He thinks his father abandoned him but yrs. later finds out the truth. Will he be able to turn his life around or is it too late?

I found Mehmet to be a sympathetic character and wished the best for him. The book kept me interested and it flowed well. It was a thrilling read.

3 teacups

About the author:

Rick Stone worked in a ship yard, spent time in the merchant navy, and worked in the quarries of Southeast England. He then gained a degree in mathematics and computing. After retiring became a writer with the publication of his first novel Birth of an Assassin.

Website
Rik-stone.com

Facebook
https://m.facebook.com/pages/Rik-Stone/602289653148840

Lisa

Book Review of Bathsheba Bathed in Grace by Carol Cook

2015-05-15T20:54:00.000-04:00

Bathsheba Bathed in Grace: How 8 Scandalous Women Changed the World
By: Carol Cook
Genre: Christian
227 pages
Publisher: West Bow Press, 2012

Adultery, lies, deception, scandal, murder, cover-up, heartache, pain, and loss—stories with these sordid elements are relevant today. And women with shady pasts—labeled, shamed, and linked with tragedies—are part of our heritage. Bathsheba, a victim or temptress, Eve outside of Eden, Tamar posed as a prostitute, Leah stole her sister Rachel’s fiancé…Sarah gave Hagar to her husband and Rebekah masterminded a grave deception. How well do you really know the women of the Bible?

An interesting read about the women of the Bible who possessed questionable morals. It provides a new perspective on their actions. I found it to be a fascinating read.

3 stars

* I was provided a complimentary copy from the publisher via BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

Get it:

Amazon

Lisa

The Redemption of Don Juan Casanova by Lloyd Lofthouse

2015-05-11T22:00:00.000-04:00

205 pages
Published: February 2015
Genre:Mystery

Don Juan Casanova is pushing 40. He's had many lovers but never settled down. His grandfather and brother are murdered and he's the main suspect. He sets out to find the killer and hopefully find true love along the way.

I found this to be a clever twist based on an age old tale. While it was graphic at times I still found it to be an interesting read.

3 stars

I'm Having A M.O.U.S.E Done

2015-04-22T20:19:00.002-04:00

My Dad has been trouble swallowing lately and his doctor explained to him that sometimes as people age their esophagus tightens. She sent him to a surgeon for a consult. We got there and a procedure was scheduled.

As Dad was checking out of the doctor's office-
(To the receptionist) Thanks. They were nice back there.
Receptionist: They're good people.
Dad ( to the other receptionist): You look like you're about to cry.
Recept.: I'm serious. I'm trying to concentrate.
Dad: I had that once but I took some Ex-lax.
Me: Oh. My. Gosh. You're an idiot.

Later:
Dad: I really think it's my abullah koali hanging down in the back of my throat that's in the way.
Me: Help me Jesus.
Dad: What's this procedure I'm having? E.G.D? G.E.D? M.O.U.S.E ?
Me: Yes Dad, it's called a mouse.

A Book Review of Breaker's Reef by Teri Blackstock

2015-03-21T19:32:00.001-04:00

Breaker's Reef
Cape Refuge # 4
By: Teri Blackstock
Genre: Christian Suspense
336 pages
Publisher: Zondervan
Buy it:
Zondervan

Amazon

A Cape Refuge teenager is dead . . .
Then another body is found . . .
Will Sadie Caruso be the next to die?
When a famous mystery writer moves to Cape Refuge, ex-con Sheila Caruso-mother to Sadie and Caleb-is thrilled to get a job working for him. But when a teenage girl is found murdered, Sheila discovers that a scene in one of the eccentric writer's novels matches the crime scene. Exactly.
Then a second dead girl is discovered by Police Chief Cade and Blair Owens. And when this murder mirrors a scene in another of the writer's books, Cade is drawn into a web of trickery and deceit. Shockingly, evidence turns up in Cade's truck-evidence that points to Cade himself as the number one suspect!
Cade tries to clear his name, but when eighteen-year-old Sadie Caruso disappears, tensions mount to a fever pitch. Can Cade find the real killer before Sadie winds up dead? Is the author a demented killer or a hapless victim? And what does Sadie's own mother have to do with the crimes? Secrets are uncovered while lessons are learned about the sins of the fathers being visited upon their children. Will the consequences of Sheila's poor choice in life be fatal, or is there redemption and mercy for her and her children?

I was given a complimentary copy from the publisher via BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

I thought it was a little slow at times but the characters, mystery, and message were all compelling. Overall it was a good read. I'll certainly read more of the books in the series.The ending was also a surprise for me. I thought I had it figured out but turns out I didn't. So, I'm giving it...

A Book Review of The Way of Tea and Justice: Rescuing the World's Favorite Beverage from Its Violent History by Becca Stevens

2015-03-01T02:50:00.000-05:00

"[Women served by Thistle Farms] would be dead by now if it weren't for a remarkable initiative by the Rev. Becca Stevens to help women escape trafficking and prostitution."
—Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times

New Book by Famed Women’s Advocate Exposes “Fair Trade” as a Myth, and Offers Justice to Women Survivors

Becca Stevens is a White House Champion of Change, and founder of Magdalene and Thistle Farms, two of the nation’s leading social enterprises for women. Now she shares how their latest initiative—a café that employs women recovering from prostitution and addiction—is fueling a worldwide movement to bring fair wages to women in her new book, The Way of Tea and Justice: Rescuing the World’s Favorite Beverage from Its Violent History (Jericho Books/Hachette Book Group, $22.00 hardcover, November 4, 2014).

Stevens opened the Thistle Stop Café in Nashville, Tennessee in 2013 to empower women survivors. But when she discovered a connection between café workers and tea laborers overseas, she embarked on a global mission called “Shared Trade” to bring freedom and fair wages to women tea producers worldwide—especially those trapped by trafficking, oppression, and opiate wars.

As she recounts the victories and challenges of launching the café, she shares the powerful personal stories of café workers, tea laborers, and volunteers whose lives were transformed by the journey. Amid heartfelt stories of justice and healing, each chapter includes recipes for tea blends that readers can make themselves.

Like the best of the culinary exposé genre, Stevens also sweeps the reader into the world of tea, where timeless rituals transport to an era of beauty, and challenging truths about tea’s darker, more violent reality are exposed.

“More than sweet thoughts, tea can become an economic powerhouse that transforms the history of communities,” Stevens writes. “Tea can be a source of economic independence for women, instead of a source of oppression.”

Magdalene, Stevens’ residential model, serves women recovering from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction for two years at no cost to residents. Thistle Farms employs residents and graduates of Magdalene to manufacture, market, and sell all natural bath and beauty products in over 380 stores nationwide.

Genre: Women's Studies/ Current Events
226 pages
Publisher: Jericho Books, November 2014

The Way of Tea and Justice: Rescuing the World's Favorite Beverage from Its Violent History by Becca Stevens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What started as an impossible dream-to build a café that employs women recovering from prostitution and addiction-is helping to fuel an astonishing movement to bring freedom and fair wages to women producers worldwide where tea and trafficking are linked by oppression and the opiate wars.
Becca Stevens started the Thistle Stop Café to empower women survivors. But when she discovered a connection between café workers and tea laborers overseas, she embarked on a global mission called “Shared Trade” to increase the value of women survivors and producers across the globe.
As she recounts the victories and unexpected challenges of building the café, Becca also sweeps the reader into the world of tea, where timeless rituals transport to an era of beauty and the challenging truths about tea’s darker, more violent history. She offers moving reflections of the meaning of tea in our lives, plus recipes for tea blends that readers can make themselves.
In this journey of triumph for impoverished tea laborers, hope for café workers, and insight into the history of tea, Becca sets out to defy the odds and prove that love is the most powerful force for transformation on earth.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I thought Stevens' story and the women's anecdotes were interesting I found the book to be repetitive at times. I also enjoyed the tea recipes at the beginning of each chapter. I also found the history of tea to be enlightening. I wish that aspect had been explored some more. Overall the book is entertaining.

The Reverend Becca Stevens is an Episcopal priest serving as Chaplain at St Augustine's at Vanderbilt University, and founder of Magdalene, a two-year residential community of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction. She founded Thistle Farms in 2001, which employs 50 residents and graduates, and houses a line of natural body care products, a paper and sewing studio, the Thistle Stop Café, and the Shared Trade initiative linking 14 women’s social enterprises around the globe.

Stevens has authored nine books, and has been featured in The New York Times and on ABC World News, NPR, PBS, CNN, and Huffington Post. She was named one of 15 Champions of Change by the White House in 2011, was inducted into the Tennessee Women's Hall of Fame in 2013, received an honorary doctorate by The University of the South, was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award from Vanderbilt Divinity School in October 2014, and was named the 2014 Humanitarian of the Year by the American Business Counsel. In 2011 she was also named "Tennessean of the Year."

In fall 2013, Stevens launched the first Thistle Farms National Conference, welcoming attendees from over 30 states. Her latest books include Snake Oil: The Art of Healing and Truth-Telling and The Way of Tea & Justice: Rescuing the World's Favorite Beverage from its Violent History.

View all my reviews

Book Review of Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician's Search for True Healing by Neil Spector, MD

2015-02-25T18:56:00.000-05:00

Gone in a Heartbeat: A Physician's Search for True Healing by Neil Spector

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dr. Neil Spector, one of the nation's top oncologists, led a charmed life. He was educated at prestigious universities, trained at top medical centers, and had married the woman of his dreams. It seemed too perfect. And it was.

In 1994, it all came crashing down. He and his wife lost two unborn children. And a mysterious illness brought him to the brink of death. In his compelling memoir, "Gone in a Heartbeat," Dr. Spector describes in great detail how he was misdiagnosed and, despite being a medical insider, was often discounted by his fellow physicians.

As he recounts his own unorthodox approach to medicine and physician/patient relationships, Dr. Spector encourages readers to never surrender their power to a third party. He tells of courageous patients who served as role models, he conceded that doctors do a disservice to patients when "we treat them like statistics," and he advocates for educated patients who can make informed decisions collaboratively and not simply follow instructions.

In Dr. Spector's words: "To recognize that we are in control of our own bodies and destinies can be a powerful step toward true healing."
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Dr. Spector chronicles his at times frustrating experiences trying to find out what was causing his heart to fail. I was surprised that his doctors didn't listen to his complaints and take him more seriously considering he was a colleague. I found the book read like a novel, it kept me very interesting. He wove his own poetry in with the book and I felt they worked well with the chapters. He also provided good advice such as not to take what doctors say at face value, to listen to your gut, and to be your own advocate. I think it's a good read for those suffering from health issues and ones who are also caregivers.

View all my reviews

Genre: Memoir
Published: February 2015

Book Review of Dumped: Stories of Women Unfriending Women: Edited by Nina Gaby

2015-02-24T19:04:00.000-05:00

Dumped: Women Unfriending Women by Nina Gaby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
A series of essays on women being dumped by their female friends. Many of the stories had me going " I know how she feels!" All of them were good even though I felt a couple didn't really belong but I still enjoyed those as well. This is a must read for women.

View all my reviews

Genre: Essays
Publisher: She Writes Press, March 2015
212 pages

Book Review of A Killer Collection by Ellery Adams

2015-02-22T05:45:00.000-05:00

A Killer Collection
A Collectible Mystery # 1
189 pages
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Beyond the Page, January 2015
Book Source: Publisher via netgalley

In the world of antiques and collectibles, it helps to have a sharp eye for quality, a good ear for gossip, and a nose for murder.

Molly Appleby is a young writer for Collector’s Weekly, and when the attractive reporter isn’t covering auctions and antique shows all over the South, she’s trying to get her new relationship with a coworker off the ground. When her latest assignment takes her to North Carolina pottery country to cover an exclusive kiln opening, she’s certain the show promises surprising offerings and rare finds. What she doesn’t expect to find is a dead body.

George-Bradley Staunton is known throughout the antiques world as a very wealthy and very ruthless collector, and when he drops dead just after the opening, there are all too few mourners and a seemingly endless list of suspects. When the local police are stumped, Molly steps in to put her journalist’s nose to work sniffing out the culprit. But no sooner does she start collecting clues than another dead body falls into her lap.

As Molly digs beneath the genteel surface of antiques and collectibles, she finds a world filled with backstabbing and competition, and what started as a story about rare collections might leave Molly with nothing more than a collection of corpses.

While uneven, Molly is a likable heroine. The mystery kept me interested and I like the developing romance. I liked it enough that I started reading another book in the series.

So, I'm giving it...

Add it on Goodreads

Buy it here:

Lisa

Book Review of Traceless by Joanne Clancy

2015-02-21T14:29:00.000-05:00

Traceless by Joanne Clancy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
235 pages
Published: September 2014

Adam Stoltz vanishes in the middle of the night.
His girlfriend, Darcey Ackerman, is the last person to see him alive.
An international manhunt and police investigation ensue, but Adam remains traceless.
Darcey is obsessed with finding out what really happened to Adam, but someone is watching her, and she is about to discover that there is a fine line between love and hate...
Traceless - some people should never be found.

Even though there were some flaws such as confusing time jumps- overall it was a good mystery. I also enjoyed the ending. I wasn't expecting it.

View all my reviews

A Review of Stranger Child by Rachel Abbott

2015-02-18T17:51:00.001-05:00

Stranger Child by Rachel Abbott

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Kindle edition
326 pages
Publication Date: Feb. 24, 2015
Genre: Suspense

When Emma Joseph met her husband David, he was a man shattered by grief. His first wife had been killed outright when her car veered off the road. Just as tragically, their six-year-old daughter mysteriously vanished from the scene of the accident.

Now, six years later, Emma believes the painful years are behind them. She and David have built a new life together and have a beautiful baby son, Ollie.
Then a stranger walks into their lives, and their world tilts on its axis.
Emma’s life no longer feels secure. Does she know what really happened all those years ago? And why does she feel so frightened for herself and for her baby?

When a desperate Emma reaches out to her old friend DCI Tom Douglas for help, she puts all their lives in jeopardy. Before long, a web of deceit is revealed that shocks both Emma and Tom to the core.

* I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

A novel that kept me up all night. It had lots of twists and turns and an interesting plot. Emma was a strong, likable heroine. I recommend it.

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Buy it:

Amazon