Category Archives: Book recommendations

The Year of Living Happily

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Hi everyone! We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading? 

The Year of Living Happily Finding Contentment and Connection in a Crazy World by Alli Worthington is a wonderful guide to help find your way to happiness.

*Disclosure: I received this book for free as part of The Book Look Bloggers book review program. I am not required to write a positive review, all opinions are my own.

 

KaTwo is my book model.

I had never heard of Alli Worthington. Apparently I have been hiding my head in the litter box once again. She has written two other successful books prior to this one. She also hosts a weekly podcast. On top of all that, she is a very involved mom to 5 boys.

The Year of Living Happy is an easy read. There are 100 “lessons” in it. Each is a page and a half long and includes a quote from The Bible. At the end of the page is a question to get you thinking of how this lesson applies to your life. There is space to record your answer and use it as a journal too.

For example, she quotes scripture, “By their fruit you will recognize them.” She then tells us to write down the fruit we want to see in our heart and life. On another page, she wants us to think of something perfectly imperfect in our life right now.

Most of these are simple lessons we have all heard before, but tend to forget. There are several lessons reminding us to be thankful and forgiving. She also suggests relaxing, recharging our batteries, breathing deeply and simple ideas we are often to busy to think about.

I think this would be a great gift for any woman ( sorry guys, this one is geared for women) in your life that needs to slow down. It is a beautiful book/journal with a pretty ribbon book mark built-in. There is also a spot in the front of the book with a presented to -from-date which would really personalize your gift.

My only complaint was a typo I found. The word quiet was spelled quit. I know that is not a big deal, but I expect more of a larger publisher.

I review for BookLook Bloggers

 

 

 

 

 

The Purrfect Gift for Kids

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Hi everyone! Today we are joining It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading? The kiddy lit version hosted by Teacher Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

I apologize if you are sick of reading about Prancie’s Prayer. I want to thank everyone who has purchased it and/or written a review. I was thrilled when I check my publisher’s home page and saw it listed as a best seller for October. Click here.

As most of you know, it is a children’s ( ages 3-7) picture book set at Christmastime. It is based on how our cat Prancie joined our family. She really did appear at our outdoor nativity. I always tell people she went to Jesus for help.

I started blogging because I wanted to help cats by sharing knowledge I have learned from living with them. I also hoped to make money blogging so I could donate to rescue groups. I will admit that I have not made much blogging, I have only had 2 paid posts in over four years of blogging.. I have decided to donate all my royalties from October-December to Boston’s Forgotten Felines. I get just under $2 on every book sold ( except those purchased through me).

I chose this Boston’s Forgotten Felines because I have been following on of the volunteers, Joni Nelson, on Facebook for years. She is out at 3 AM daily feeding ferals in Boston. Many people treat her badly and try to poison the cats. Many of the cats are friendly and not actually feral, she tries to rescue them and find them homes, but there are so many. Boston gets very cold in the winter and I wish they had a place they could bring them inside , but all they can do is make shelters for them and feed them.

Here are the links to places you can purchase Prancie’s Prayer. Please share this post and help spread the word.

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

We are also joining Comedy Plus’ Awww..Mondays. I hope Prancie’s Prayer will make you say Awww..

It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading?

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We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday What are YOU Reading?

I just finished reading Ghostbuster’s Daughter by Violet Ramis Stiehl. Sounds like Harold Ramis was a good father to the author. I was disappointed to read about what a pot head he was though. I also would have preferred to not know about her parents open marriage.

I am currently reading Cats and Daughters They Don’t Always Come When Called by Helen Brown. I was enjoying it up until she wrote of leaving for a wedding. Her son left his cat at her house and had never met the resident cat. They just tossed them together and left. I found that incredibly stupid and dangerous for the cats.

Trouble says hello. I think she is part bat.

 

 

Monday Mewsic and More

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Hi everyone! We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading?And we are also joining Mewsic Moves Me (hosted by Curious as a Cathy, Xmas Dolly, JAmerican Spice and Stacy Uncorked.)

Being that it is Halloween time, I am going to try to read a vampire novel. I have been afraid on vampires since I was a kid and my aunt let me watch Salem’s Lot. I slept with my neck covered until about two years ago ( when the hot flashes started). My friend and fellow blogger, Marie (Athena’s Mum) has written a trilogy of vampire stories. I have enjoyed all her cat themed books so I am sure these will be good too. If you are interested, you can get the kindle edition of Poet’s Blood for free right now. Click here.

The Mewsic theme for this week is songs with hand claps and finger snaps. I couldn’t think of any with the finger snaps, but I have 3 with hand claps.

  1. Take the Money and Run ( Steve Miller Band)-

2. More Than A Feeling ( Boston)-

And because I spend a lot of time with an almost 3 year old:

3. Sesame Street If Your Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands-

And here are Brody and Trouble. I am so happy that Brody has a friend, she even cleans his ears for him sometimes.

More Than Just Making It

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Hi everyone. I have another book review for today. More Than Just Making It by Erin Odom.

Being that I stole Penny’s day, I thought I would let her pose with the book.

*Disclosure: I received this book for free as part of The Book Look Bloggers book review program. I am not required to write a positive review, all opinions are my own.

The author writes a blog, The Humbled Homemaker. She grew up middle class with frugal parents, but she always had enough. Her dream was actually to be missionary which she did do after college.with her husband. They thought they were making a wise financial choice when they purchased a home. Unfortunately, the recession hit  in 2009 when they both lost their jobs. They ended up owing more than the value of the house. They also had a little girl to provide for.

The family ended up moving in with the author’s parents temporarily. Her husband found a job teaching in North Carolina, but the pay was very low. She worked for the newspaper, but her salary varied monthly. She ended up having to apply for Food Stamps which she was embarrassed to do, but had no choice. She eventually realized that she didn’t have to feel ashamed because those services were there to help. It made her rethink everything she believed about government services. She always thought those on them were lazy, but she discovered that is not the case. Many are working poor that just can’t make ends meet.

Part of this book is her personal account of her family’ s continued financial struggles. These also led to marital problems, yet they somehow ended up having three more children since 2010 which made it even harder to make ends meet.Once she started making money on her blog in addition to her husband’s salary, they were able to get off of public assistance.

They have more money now, but still live frugally. They purchase all their furniture used and their vehicles too. Much of the book is about how anyone can live on less money. She writes about planning meals and saving money on them. She also explains that some have spending problems and others have income problems. They had an income problem because they did not earn enough to cover the basic needs. The only debt they had was their house.

I think this is a great book for anyone that has financial trouble, especially young couples. I did have one major problem with it though because for me personally, it was useless. My financial troubles are always around veterinary care for my 13 cats. They did not have a pet or write about anyone having one. I know it is my choice to have so many cats, but what would someone in their situation do if they had a dog or cat and it was sick? So many end up returning them to shelters or abandoning them when they can’t afford them. It would have been nice to read some solutions to these issues so people would not resort to that. Because of that , I am only rating it 3 out of 5 stars.

We are joining Comedy Plus’ Happy Tuesday Blog Hop.

I review for BookLook Bloggers

Books, Mewsic and More

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We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading?And we are also joining Mewsic Moves Me (hosted by Curious as a Cathy, Xmas Dolly, JAmerican Spice and Stacy Uncorked.)

I am sure many of you have heard of the DJ, Bobby Bones. Apparently my head has been buried in a litter box for years because I just learned of him. I love to read memoirs and self-help books and he has published one of each.

I started with his latest book, Fail Until You Don’t. His mantra is “Fight, Grind, Repeat.” And that is what he does and has done his entire life.  He has gotten to where he is in life through hard work day in and day out his entire life. He even continued working when he had his impacted wisdom teeth removed. He would take pain meds because he didn’t want to be loopy so he just kept going like an energizer bunny.

Bare Bones: I’m Not Lonely If You’re Reading This Book was published in 2016. He had a tough childhood, but didn’t let that stop him from achieving his dream of being on the radio. His father abandoned the family when he was young and his mom was an alcoholic who had him when she was age 15. Luckily, he had his Grandma and other positive role models in his life.  I was especially impressed that he doesn’t drink and never has. If you have heard of him then you probably love him too, but if not I highly recommend these two books. I am in awe of this man, I admire anyone who has a tough life and manages to succeed.

In addition to being an author, comedian and popular radio personality, he also has a band, The Raging Idiots, which is actually just him and another guy from the radio station, but they have raised a ton of money for charities Yes, he is a philanthropist too. So for my Mewsic choices I have some of their videos which are quite humorous.

1. Chick -Fil-A ( But it’s Sunday)

2. Friends In Low Places – Garth’s song, but he does a good job.

3. Hobby Lobby Bobby-

I hope Sammy posing with his book is Awww…worthy.

Prancie’s Prayer is Now Available

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Hi everyone! Today we are joining It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading? The kiddy lit version hosted by Teacher Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers.

Prancie’s Prayer is based on her true story of how she appeared at our outdoor nativity on a cold winter day. It is a Christmas book, but it is never too early to start your shopping. 🙂

I thought it was going to take 6 weeks for Prancie’s Prayer to be available, but it only took one week. I am thrilled, but it did throw me off with my marketing plan. I wish I could give every one of my blog readers one, but I can’t afford to do that. I have sent a few out to be reviewed ( I already contacted those bloggers about this).

I do have an offer for you all though. For anyone willing to write a review on Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes and Noble, I will give you  an e-copy. You would have to put a disclosure on the review saying you were given a  review copy. If you are interested, please let me know in the comment section and I will email you.Thank you.

I will be having a giveaway on here soon and on Goodreads for the paperback version.

If you want to purchase a copy ( or copies) through me, let me know in the comment section and I will contact you with my Paypal information. I am selling it through my blog for $10 which includes shipping in the USA.

It is available on Amazon for $12.99 with a Kindle version for $2.99. The Kindle version should be available internationally. It is also available on Barnes and Noble. I am trying to market it to religious stores and smaller bookstores too. If you have any of those near you, could you please tell me the names so I can look up their contact information. This is all new to me and I am determined to succeed because I have many more stories to tell.Thank you all for your help, it is greatly appreciated.

We are also joining Comedy Plus’ Awww..Mondays. I hope Prancie’s Prayer will make you say Awww..

 

 

 

 

Go On, Girl

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We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading?

*Disclaimer: I received a Kindle copy of Go On, Girl! by Hilary Grossman in exchange for a fair review.

I have enjoyed all three of Hilary’s other books and this one did not disappoint. If you like the television show, American Housewife then you will love this. Despite being fiction, this book really made me think that perhaps I am too judgemental. Just because someone appears a certain way, doesn’t mean they are that way.

Here is Hilary’s description of the book:

Executive, wife, and mother of an outgoing first-grader, Sydney Clayton crushes her day-to-day obligations at work but flounders in the cutthroat world of parental politics.

She manages to avoid the local drama until she’s faced with an ultimatum: join the Forest River PTA or risk her daughter becoming a social outcast. Sydney reluctantly becomes treasurer, and takes the recently vacated position of the president’s sidekick. If protecting the children’s freedom of speech, one best friend ban at a time, isn’t complicated enough, Sydney and her husband receive an unexpected offer for their house they don’t think they can refuse.

Embroiled in the deception and manipulation rife among the elementary school moms, Sydney struggles. Should she sell the home she worked so hard to build in a town where betrayal runs rampant? Or should she stay put to avoid the fallout from uprooting her child? As Sydney focuses on what is best for her daughter, and lets go of her judgments, she finds friendship can develop in very unexpected ways.

Warm, witty, and wise, Go On, Girl dramatizes the dilemmas of life in the suburbs and the bonds shared by women. Perfect for fans of Class Mom and I Don’t Know How She Does It.

Until 9/16, you can purchase Go On, Girl! for only 99 cents, after that time it will be $3.99. Click here for the Amazon link You can also get her last book, Plan Bea for free.

By day, Hilary Grossman works in the booze biz. By night she hangs out with her “characters.” She has an unhealthy addiction to denim and high heel shoes. She’s been known to walk into walls and fall up stairs. She only eats spicy foods and is obsessed with her cat, Lucy. She loves to find humor in everyday life. She likens life to a game of dodge ball – she tries to keep many balls in the air before they smack her in the face. She lives on Long Island.

To find out more of what Hilary is up to check out her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HilaryGrossmanAuthor or find her on Twitter https://twitter.com/feelingbeachie

And there’s more. Hilary is also having a giveaway for a Google Home mini. Here is the rafflecopter link:
Joanie wants to know if she is Aww..worthy?

 

Mewsic , Books and More

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We are joining Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading?And we are also joining Mewsic Moves Me (hosted by Curious as a Cathy, Xmas Dolly, JAmerican Spice and Stacy Uncorked.)

I am currently reading Once Upon a Farm by Rory Feek and I recently finished his other memoir, This Life I Live: One Man’s Extraordinary, Ordinary Life and the Woman Who Changed It Forever.

I was not familiar with Rory or his wife , Joey  who passed away in 2016. They had a tv show about their life together, but I didn’t know about it until I read these books. They both were country writers and singers. She helped raise his 2 daughters and sadly, when they finally had a child, Joey was diagnosed with cancer and only survived until the child’s second birthday.  Despite life’s problems, he maintains a positive attitude and writes of what he has learned from life.

Today is a freebie day on the mewsic so I chose songs written by Rory.

  1. Blake Shelton’s Some Beach- I always liked this, but had no idea that Rory Feek wrote it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTT2LEyjdC4
  2. Joey and Rory-When I’m Gone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcpjSMmWUDw This was recorded in 2012, long before she was diagnosed with cancer.

 

The Hundred Story Home

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We are joining McGuffy’s Reader’s Sparks (even though she is on hiatus), Comedy Plus’ Awww….Mondays and Book Date’s It’s Monday! What Are YOU Reading? 

The Hundred Story Home by Kathy Izard is a touching memoir of one woman’s quest to make the world a better place.

*Disclosure: I received this book for free as part of The Book Look Bloggers book review program. I am not required to write a positive review, all opinions are my own.

Kathy Izard was a graphic designer, happily married with four daughters when she felt what she described as an “insistent whisper”. At the time, she was volunteering at a local soup kitchen in Charlotte, NC. One day, while working at the soup kitchen she meets a man who was formerly homeless and later became a famous author, Denver Moore. He asks her one simple question that changes the course of her life. “Where are the beds? ”

Prior to that , Kathy thought the soup kitchen was doing a great job serving the homeless of Charlotte. She had never given a thought to where they go after they eat. This one question inspires her to quit her job so she can find a way to create homes for the homeless.It takes a lot of work, prayer and donations, but she finds a way.

Throughout the memoir, she revisits her childhood. Until she was six, she had a fairly normal life with two sisters and her parents. Eventually, her mother’s bipolar disorder takes her away from the family for years.The author realizes now how easily her family could have become homeless because of this. So not only does she provide homes for the homeless, she finds a way to keep them stable once there through medical and psychological care.

Unfortunately, her focus on helping the homeless takes her away from her family and even when she is with them, she is not giving her all. It takes finding a letter of despair her college aged daughter wrote to make her realize this. Eventually, she finds a happy medium between work and family, but it takes a lot of effort.

I highly recommend this book as an inspiration to anyone that feels they are not living the life they were meant to live. Kathy Izard says, ” I wrote The Hundred Story Home not to convince you to help solve the homelessness in your community but to help solve the homelessness in you. ”

This book also has a reader’s guide and FAQ from readers at the end. I think it would be perfect for church groups or book clubs. It would also be a great gift for a friend that needs a little push to living their dreams.

I am going to spread the joy and give this book away so if you are interested, just tell me in the comment section. We will announce the winner on Wednesday’s post. I can only afford to mail it in the USA though, sorry, but books are heavy.

 

I review for BookLook Bloggers