Book Review: Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton

Summary: 

An inspirational, sidesplittingly funny exploration of the power of living with love, forgiveness, and honesty.

In Carry On, Warrior, Glennon Doyle Melton shares new stories and the best-loved material from Momastery.com She recounts her mistakes and triumphs with candor and humor, and gives language to our universal (yet often secret) experiences. She believes that by shedding our armor, we can stop hiding, competing, striving for the mirage of perfection, and making motherhood, marriage, and friendship harder by pretending they’re not hard. In this one woman trying to love herself and others, readers find a wise and witty friend who will inspire them to forgive their own imperfections, make the most of their gifts, and commit to small acts of love that will change the world.

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Age Group: Adult Non-Fiction

Source: Purchased

Review:

I've been reading (and loving) Glennon's blog, Momastery, for over a year now.  I was thrilled when she announced her book deal and have been waiting for Carry On, Warrior for what feels like forever.  

I'm not usually a lover of non-fiction but this book was outstanding.  It made me cry several times, and as Chris Tomlin would say, "it made my heart want to sing."  I love Glennon's blog, but this book was even better and really spoke to my heart.  Some of the essays in the book have been previously published on her website, but much of the book is new material.  And for new(ish) followers of the site, like me, it was nice to be able to read Glennon's story in order, instead of piecing it together through the blog.  

Glennon describes herself as a hope-spreader and truth-teller.  She lives an open and honest life, and that honesty is what speaks to me.  I see so much of myself in her and feel like she knows how I feel, even though she doesn't know me.  She describes this as the divine inside of her speaking to and recognizing the divine in me.  And I think she's exactly right.  Reading this book was like hearing a bell toll: all of it rang true for me.  

I'm so glad I bought a hard copy of Carry On, Warrior.  I want to be able to easily flip back to my favorite parts and highlight certain quotes and go back and read this book again just to savor it.  I feel like Carry On, Warrior is more of a book for women, especially mothers, but I think that it would appeal to just about anyone.  Highly, highly recommended!   

Weekly Wrap-Up 6.16.13

We're still having a hard time with Kaitlyn's broken leg (read more about it here), but I did get some reading in this week---yay!

I read:

Where the Stars Still Shine by Trish Doller
Asylum by Jenny Miller
A Really Awesome Mess by Trish Cook and Brendan Halpin
Sometimes Never, Sometimes Always by Elisa Janine Hoole
The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore
Parenting: Illustrated with Crappy Pictures by Amber Dusick

And check out this cool graphic author Jason Sandberg made for me, as a thank-you for reading a reviewing his book, Candy and the Cankersaur:

 How was your week?

Book Review: The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1) by Stacey Kade

Summary: 

1. Never trust anyone.
2. Remember they are always searching.
3. Don’t get involved.
4. Keep your head down.
5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

Release Date: April 23, 2013

Age Group: YA

Source: Review copy from publisher

Review:

Having read The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade, I already knew that I loved her writing.  What I didn't know was how much I would love The Rules.  I closed the cover to The Rules thinking, this book has everything it needed to have plus more.  I thought to myself that some authors just "have it," meaning their talent seems to come naturally and easily.  There are just some books that stand out and this was one of them.

I loved so much about this book. The plot was unique and very well-executed.  I loved the fact that while Ariane is paranormal, she's a different kind of paranormal.  I don't read too much about extraterrestrials and I really enjoyed the change of pace.  Speaking of pace, Kade's pacing in The Rules was perfect.  Things moved along fast enough to keep me flipping the pages excitedly, but not so fast that the plot felt rushed.  The world-building was interspersed with the story, which I love because there are no slow patches to the book.  I loved Ariane's history and thought that Kade did a very thorough job with Ariane's back-story. 

One of my favorite styles of writing is when authors use an alternating POV.  I love getting to really know both main characters, and alternating POVs really get the reader inside the characters' heads.  I love that!  I found the characters to be quite complex, more so than in other YA reads, and I really enjoyed that.  It kept the book from feeling too young---because much of the story was set in high school, with typical high school drama.  That "high school feeling" was the only thing I didn't love about The Rules.  It is a necessary evil of YA, but I prefer it when the focus is not so much on school.  

The ending was a nice surprise, and I really can't wait to read book two.  Kade has done an outstanding job with book one in the Project Paper Doll series!

Elena Chose Her Vamp, Now Bring on The Originals!

There are no secrets here, when my kids go to bed the headphones come out. I steal my daughters purple skull candy headphones and plop down in front of my computer to begin my mini marathon of whatever TV series has my interest. Last week I got all caught up on The Vampire Diaries.

Let it be known there are some spoilers in this post.

The season 4 finale was EPIC! I thought it was inevitable that Elena would end up back with Stephan *gross* BUT she made the right decision and chose Damon!!!

STOP THE SHOW... END IT... FREEZE TIME... 

And yes I make believe these are real people... moving on. 

Whatever you do dear writers PLEASE just leave that love story alone and choose another tragedy to focus on. I've decided to place a mental block in my mind and tell myself that the show was a wrap and now I'm on to The Originals.

Now, you know as soon as season 5 premiere's I will remove that mental block and be on pins and needles to see where the story goes. Listen, I have a {cold, icy} heart and I do hope that they eventually find Stephan at the bottom of the lake and that there will be an unattainable and interesting love between Jeremy and his dead witch. But seriously, we have seen Elena swing back and forth between these two vamps for 4 seasons... SHE HAS CHOSEN... BAM, done.

What I am interested in is sweet 'ol Caroline and Klaus. I want her to trade teams and end up in New Orleans. Could you imagine the drama of that! The control-freak vampire, who happens to be Klaus' love, comes to town. And then add her finding out that he has impregnated a hybrid (Hayley). >>>Drama Central<<< It would be so much more interesting than the story of her little puppy love in Mystic falls with Tyler. 

I also want to see poor Matt get a chance. That poor guy has got the raw end of the deal every single time. I would hope Rebekah takes care of the pitiful warm blood.

I have no idea where either of these shows are headed but I tell you this I WANT MORE. I just hope The Vampire Diaries doesn't take a turn to crapsville. I don't doubt that The Originals will be a hit its first season. 

Maybe they will do a two-hour special where the two shows merge! Ah, a girl can hope!

#TVD #TheOriginals

*image source: google.com

Book Review: The Obvious Game by Rita Arens

Summary: 

“Everyone trusted me back then. Good old, dependable Diana. Which is why most people didn’t notice at first.”

"Your shirt is yellow."
"Your eyes are blue."
"You have to stop running away from your problems."
"You're too skinny."

Fifteen-year-old Diana Keller accidentally begins teaching The Obvious Game to new kid Jesse on his sixteenth birthday. As their relationship deepens, Diana avoids Jesse's past with her own secrets -- which she'll protect at any cost.

Release Date: February 7, 2013

Age Group: YA

Source: Review copy from author

Review:
I love the premise of The Obvious Game.  The game itself---pointing out obvious things as a game---was an interesting concept to me, and the reason why I accepted The Obvious Game for review.  I had no idea that this book would affect me the way it did.  I absolutely loved it!  I was expecting your typical YA contemporary fiction, maybe with some high-school drama, so I was unprepared to read such an emotional, well-written story.

Diana grew up overweight and has the resultant body- and self-image issues after years of being teased about her size.  She begins dieting without really making a conscious decision to do so.  Diana's mother has cancer, and Diana can't handle the stress her mother's illness is placing on everyone in the family, not to mention the fear of losing her mother.  

Diana meets Jesse, the new kid in town, and they have an instant connection.  She starts running the bleachers while Jesse is in wrestling practice, and quickly begins losing a tremendous amount of weight.  Diana's eating habits coincide well with Jesse's, as he struggles to keep his weight down for wrestling, to stay in the lower weight class.  They both avoid eating, or when they do eat, eat very low-calorie foods.  Diana's weight loss spirals out of control, and she feels like she is hiding it well, but she's not.   

I loved that The Obvious Game was set in the 1990's as it really took me back to my own teenage years.  It was easy to picture myself as Diana, even though I've never been in her situation.  I loved the conflict resolution Arens employed.  It was realistic and very believable.  I admired that Arens used therapy to heal Diana instead of the change happening magically.  

But my favorite part of The Obvious Game was the ending.  It was just perfect!  I won't say any more about it, so I don't spoil it for you, but the character growth and change was so satisfying.  I loved The Obvious Game and would most definitely read Rita Arens again!

 

Guest Post: Elizabeth Norris

Today we're happy to welcome Elizabeth Norris, author of Unraveling and this year’s Unbreakable, to I'd So Rather Be Reading.  Elizabeth is here to share 5 of her top TV picks for summer.

• The Wire. I watched all five seasons on DVD a few summers ago. It's amazingly well written with complex characters. It's all around fantastic.

• Buffy. Each season just got better and better. (The fifth season was my favorite!)

• Battlestar Galactica. This show cemented my love for science fiction. It's amazing.

• Friday Night Lights. The characters. This is so much more than a football show, but it will make you love football at the same time.

• New Girl. This is number one on my list for binge-watching this summer. I've only caught a few episodes, but I can't wait to see more.

Stay tuned to more of Liz’s top TV picks! Also check out I am a Reader, Not a Writer (May 31^st), Reading After Midnight (June 4^th), Tynga’s Reviews (June 5^th), Two Chicks on Books (June 7^th), Midnight Book Girl (June 12^th) and Good Books and Good Wine (June 14^th) for excerpts and Liz’s top picks for books and movies this summer. 

Book Review: Candy and the Cankersaur by Jason Sandberg

Summary: 

This is the sweet and funny tale of a young girl named Candy and her Cankersaurus Rex! Candy receives a dinosaur as a gift and is determined
to train him to be a good pet. This playful homage to Syd Hoff will make all dinosaur-crazy boys and girls happy! Enjoy!

Release Date: 

Age Group: Children's

Source: Review copy from author

Review:

This was such a sweet book!  I read it quickly (as it is a children's picture book) and when I finished, thought, "what's not to love?".  Candy and the Cankersaur has great illustrations, a good storyline, and there is a perfect moral to the story.  The author recommends it for the following age groups: as a bedtime story for ages 3-6, and as a read-alone picture book, ages 6-9.

My review copy was a PDF, so I sat Kaitlyn (my 2-year old) in my lap to read the story to her.  There were too many words for her to understand everything, so I shortened some of the story while reading it aloud, but she loved the illustrations and the story kept her interest (which is saying a lot, as she is usually resistant to new books at first).  

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a new picture book.  Something about it made me feel nostalgic, maybe it's the illustrations, but I really enjoyed it and would definitely read Jason Sandberg again.

 

 

Book Giveaway!

Have you heard the buzz about Susanne Winnacker's new Variants series?  The first book in the series, Impostor, just came out and it is an outstanding read!

We're happy to give away one hardcover copy of Impostors.  Thank  you to Media Masters Publicity for sponsoring this great giveaway!

Fill out the form below to enter.  This giveaway is open to US residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Impostor (Variants #1) by Susanne Winnacker

Summary: 

Tessa is a Variant, able to absorb the DNA of anyone she touches and mimic their appearance. Shunned by her family, she’s spent the last two years training with the Forces with Extraordinary Abilities, a secret branch of the FBI. When a serial killer rocks a small town in Oregon, Tessa is given a mission: she must impersonate Madison, a local teen, to find the killer before he strikes again.

Tessa hates everything about being an impostor—the stress, the danger, the deceit—but loves playing the role of a normal girl. As Madison, she finds friends, romance, and the kind of loving family she’d do anything to keep. Amid action, suspense, and a ticking clock, this super-human comes to a very human conclusion: even a girl who can look like anyone struggles the most with being herself.

Release Date: May 28, 2013

Age Group: YA

Source: Review copy from publisher

Review:
I started this book late one night and was initially turned off by the somewhat gory depiction of the murder victims.  I almost stopped reading, but I'm so glad I didn't because I ended up falling completely in love with Impostor!  


Impostor is one of those books that jumps right into the action.  Sometimes that can leave me feeling confused, but Winnacker handled the world building perfectly and I loved being right in the thick of the story from the beginning.  

I loved the concept of the Variants.  Their abilities were neat to read about, and I especially liked that the Variants are a part of the FBI and go on covert missions.  I really felt for Tessa, being shunned by her family and not having anyone at home to love her and miss her.  The lack of familial relationships leaves Tessa gun-shy when it comes to romantic relationships, and she is secretly in love with another Variant but too scared to admit it to him.

There were so many things to love about Impostor.  The premise was unique, the action was intense, and the plot continually kept me surprised and guessing at who the killer really was.  I loved that Winnacker built so many surprises into the plot.  It made Impostor so hard for me to put down.

I was quite pleased with the ending, which provided a good amount of closure while still keeping things open for a sequel.  I highly recommend Impostor and can't wait for the next book in the series!

 

You Would Cry Too If It Happened To You!

Kelli and I are moms. 

We have a lot of similarities in personality and lifestyle and a lot of differences. 

• For instance, Kelli has a very calm and reassuring voice with a pleasant tone. Me on the other hand, well I am LOUD and to the point. 
• Kelli's house is calm... my house is not. 
• Kelli's daughter Kaitlyn loves to read (big surprise) and ride in her wagon. My kids wake up and literally eat their breakfast with helmets on and then race to whatever adventure has been cooked up for the day (I blame their father). 

So, when Kelli called to tell me that she had been at the ER with Kaitlyn, my initial thought was virus, breathing difficulty, bump on the head but NOT a broken leg! 

How did this happen? 

Was Kaitlyn attempting the ramps found under my carport or jumping off a swing 15 feet in the air or attempting a back-flip into the pool? Nope, she was simply getting ready for bed and tripped over one of her little people princesses.......... What a FLUKE!  

Clearly, I am the deserving mother of such an injury (and believe me, we've had our share of ER visits in my long 7 years of motherhood), but usually there is a tale to tell. 

But alas, I felt it important to fill-in on the blog and let you know that Kelli is living a wonderful, rested life short-term nightmare. Lucky for all of us, she has about 50 reviews scheduled and waiting to pop-up and you would have never known she was gone... but like I said I'm loud :) So here's to Kelli and her sanity. We wish Kaitlyn and YOU a speedy recovery & may the odds be ever in your favor retail therapy!