Procrastination? Fear? Perfectionism? Time Management? Willpower?
All these words and then some are addressed in Glynnis Whitwer's new book, "Taming the To Do List" and when I saw the title up for review, I thought, "yeah that might be good for me." I guess based on the title I thought that it would actually give pointers to refine, breakdown, organize--"tame"--my to-do list. I was pleasingly......disappointed. While Whitwer does address what I thought the book would be about in a small portion, she actually addresses more the psychology behind why the list can or cant' be tamed. Namely, a lot of those words at the top of this review.
You can tell that Whitwer definitely did her homework siting references from books and studies she used to educate herself on this topic. Not only were there scholarly references, but she took it a step further to use biblical references as well.
As a christian, I often wonder how I am doing on God's to-do list for me. For example, she sites fear as one of those reasons we may procrastinate and then sites verses to help us combat that feeling.
There are end of chapter self-help sections where the reader is asked to "list" things and apply what you just read.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It definitely helped me recognize some things about myself that I can improve on. Like this review for example. This was the last day for reviews to be submitted. Its 7:30pm...Can we say, this was a good book for me to read? 5 stars!!!
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
"Last Chance Hero" Book Review
Jessica MacLeod arrives in Last Chance, New Mexico with hopes of finally having her own medical practice and living part of a childhood dream. She quickly realizes that her city ways, unfamiliarity with small-town high-school football and whether she wants "red" or "green" puts her in the minority.
New head football coach for Last Chance High, Andy Ryan returns to his hometown of Last Chance a hero of the "glory days" of football and Puma Pride. Andy soon finds that the memories and expectations of the past--on and off the field--still linger.
Can this newcomer and a high-school golden boy share enough interests to be friends and possibly more? Or will expectations fizzle this relationship before love has a chance in Last Chance?
Cathleen Armstrong threw me right in to the middle of the Last Chance series. This is the fourth book in A Place To Call Home series. This is a novel on its own, but reading the others in the series would have been helpful just to get a better feel for the town and residents.
The book itself, I felt, was a little more on the lighter side of what I'm used to reading. However, the characters do have internal struggles and issues to overcome. I wouldn't say the the characters are multi-dimensional, but they are easy to relate to--especially since the storyline does take place in modern day.
There were several characters to keep track of, but not too difficult to do so. There are the usual characters that are endearing and the ones you question motives. The setting is in a small town, so characters and their relationships overlap.
Overall, the book moved along at a nice pace.
One thing I experienced while reading this book was an absolute craving for green chile! ("Red" or
"green" is an accompaniment at the local restaurant, The Dip-n-Dine) Literally, I would be reading and my mouth would water! So if you like Mexican food, beware!!
My only disappointment was nearing the end, I was left asking lots of questions of "what happened to..." However, for Armstong to structure her novel that way was a clever tool to lead you to want to read the next in the series. Kudos on that!
Overall, I would give this a 4 stars out of 5.
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
New head football coach for Last Chance High, Andy Ryan returns to his hometown of Last Chance a hero of the "glory days" of football and Puma Pride. Andy soon finds that the memories and expectations of the past--on and off the field--still linger.
Can this newcomer and a high-school golden boy share enough interests to be friends and possibly more? Or will expectations fizzle this relationship before love has a chance in Last Chance?
Cathleen Armstrong threw me right in to the middle of the Last Chance series. This is the fourth book in A Place To Call Home series. This is a novel on its own, but reading the others in the series would have been helpful just to get a better feel for the town and residents.
The book itself, I felt, was a little more on the lighter side of what I'm used to reading. However, the characters do have internal struggles and issues to overcome. I wouldn't say the the characters are multi-dimensional, but they are easy to relate to--especially since the storyline does take place in modern day.
There were several characters to keep track of, but not too difficult to do so. There are the usual characters that are endearing and the ones you question motives. The setting is in a small town, so characters and their relationships overlap.
Overall, the book moved along at a nice pace.
One thing I experienced while reading this book was an absolute craving for green chile! ("Red" or
"green" is an accompaniment at the local restaurant, The Dip-n-Dine) Literally, I would be reading and my mouth would water! So if you like Mexican food, beware!!
My only disappointment was nearing the end, I was left asking lots of questions of "what happened to..." However, for Armstong to structure her novel that way was a clever tool to lead you to want to read the next in the series. Kudos on that!
Overall, I would give this a 4 stars out of 5.
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
"The Memory Weaver" Book Review
In this coming-of-age story of Eliza Spalding, we watch a girl become a woman in the fairly untamed region of the Pacific northwest. Daughter of missionary parents, Eliza carves out her way. Always dogged by memories of abduction from an Indian tribe close to the settlement where her parents ministered, can she find her way and heal from that incident so long ago?
This is the first novel I've read by Jane Kirpatrick. She clearly took great effort in researching the life and times of Eliza Spalding and her family and that of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the mission establishments in what is now Washington state and surrounding areas. The characters were real and Kirpatrick gave them voice and humanized them, even though this is a work of fiction.
I really appreciated the map and the cast of characters section at the beginning of the book. I'm not familiar much with the locale of the setting in the story and this greatly helped paint a picture in my mind's eye.
The structure of the book was a little confusing for me to follow. The "memory weaving" was done strategically using Eliza's mother's diary to almost preface or mirror what was going on in Eliza's life at the time. So, there was a lot of back and forth between memories and current story line. Then nearing the end of the book, Eliza has an epiphany...I can't say much more than that. But, by the end of the book, I found myself wanting to know "so what really happened"? Maybe a short blurb at the front of the book with the actual history surrounding the abduction, etc. would have been good. There was information at the back of the book, but I discovered this after the fact.
The characters of Eliza's sisters, father and Andrew were nicely peppered and unique in their own way adding spice to the story. They too have their own struggles we see.
The book is written in the first person. A nice touch given the intimacy (non-romantic) of the story line between mother and daughter and the inner struggle they each had.
This was a storyline that makes you think and puts you into the minds of two strong women. Put it during an exciting time of our nations growth and in a rare setting as well, you have the makings of an interesting read. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
This is the first novel I've read by Jane Kirpatrick. She clearly took great effort in researching the life and times of Eliza Spalding and her family and that of Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and the mission establishments in what is now Washington state and surrounding areas. The characters were real and Kirpatrick gave them voice and humanized them, even though this is a work of fiction.
I really appreciated the map and the cast of characters section at the beginning of the book. I'm not familiar much with the locale of the setting in the story and this greatly helped paint a picture in my mind's eye.
The structure of the book was a little confusing for me to follow. The "memory weaving" was done strategically using Eliza's mother's diary to almost preface or mirror what was going on in Eliza's life at the time. So, there was a lot of back and forth between memories and current story line. Then nearing the end of the book, Eliza has an epiphany...I can't say much more than that. But, by the end of the book, I found myself wanting to know "so what really happened"? Maybe a short blurb at the front of the book with the actual history surrounding the abduction, etc. would have been good. There was information at the back of the book, but I discovered this after the fact.
The characters of Eliza's sisters, father and Andrew were nicely peppered and unique in their own way adding spice to the story. They too have their own struggles we see.
The book is written in the first person. A nice touch given the intimacy (non-romantic) of the story line between mother and daughter and the inner struggle they each had.
This was a storyline that makes you think and puts you into the minds of two strong women. Put it during an exciting time of our nations growth and in a rare setting as well, you have the makings of an interesting read. I give it 4 stars out of 5.
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
"The Mistress of Tall Acre" Book Review
As this young country emerges from the grip of the American Revolution, those who made it--either fighting it or waiting at home--try to piece together a new life yearning for normalcy; or a sense of it. But for the daughter of a Scotsman loyal to the crown, Sophie Menzies has it harder than most in Roan, Virginia--given the blight to her family name. Trying to eek out a life on meager means at her Three Chimneys home, Sophie finds hope in the return of Seamus Ogilvy--neighbor, General, war hero, widower and father.
General Seamus Ogilvy returns to Tall Acre a hero, but feeling none of the pomp and circumstance it should entail. Even though battlefield chaos is over, he is mounting an attack to return Tall Acre to its former glory. But perhaps the biggest battle is being a father to the daughter he left the day she was born.
Seamus and Sophie form an unlikely partnership in efforts to forge ahead in this time of healing for our young country. But when tragedy strikes, can they find the strength within and together to press on?
I was saving this review--the best for last, as they say...I must be honest and say that Laura Frantz is one of my favorite, if not THE favorite, of my go-to authors. So, much to my delight, when I found that The Mistress of Tall Acre was one of the books for review this month, I literally bounced in my chair when I read the offerings from the publisher!
Frantz, I have no doubt wove the story of Seamus and Sophie while curled in the arms of a soft chair with nothing but the sound of a crackling fire, scent of a bayberry candle and the scratch of a pen tip on paper to keep her company. As usual, her characters and story lines are developed and layered. She has an excellent way of relaying the angst, confusion, wants and desires of the characters while within the boundaries of social etiquette for the time period. However, we know that love has no boundaries, even in 1784!! I also appreciate that at the end of sections or chapters, she puts these poignant little one-liners or brief thoughts that drive the feeling home. I was pleased to see the quote from the Declaration of Independence at the beginning of chapter one. I hoped the subsequent chapters would have quotes like Frantz used in the Ballantyne Legacy, but sadly they did not. But, that's alright.
My only true "complaint", and maybe that thought shouldn't be titled as such..."concern" perhaps? I was never completely sure what Seamus' actions at Early Hall were all about...(I cant say too much) I re-read from that scene to the end and couldn't find an answer. I'm curious to know what that was all about and also the change in Seamus from wanting to jump into politics and going off to Williamsburg again to then...oops, cant say much more. More development may have been nice there...But perhaps word counts didn't allow? None-the-less, as the reader, you can see through the lines and make assumptions. And it didn't seem to effect the main story line. It just made me quirk a brow here and there.
As with most of Frantz books, I find myself befriending the characters. And inevitably, I feel a sense of loss when I must let them go. But in the back of my mind I wonder, what will the next adventure be for them? In wanting to join the characters in the next novel, I feel a little like Sophie before heading to Annapolis... "Her wayward heart was already counting the hours till she'd be back."
5 stars. I'd feel guilty giving it anything less!
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
General Seamus Ogilvy returns to Tall Acre a hero, but feeling none of the pomp and circumstance it should entail. Even though battlefield chaos is over, he is mounting an attack to return Tall Acre to its former glory. But perhaps the biggest battle is being a father to the daughter he left the day she was born.
Seamus and Sophie form an unlikely partnership in efforts to forge ahead in this time of healing for our young country. But when tragedy strikes, can they find the strength within and together to press on?
I was saving this review--the best for last, as they say...I must be honest and say that Laura Frantz is one of my favorite, if not THE favorite, of my go-to authors. So, much to my delight, when I found that The Mistress of Tall Acre was one of the books for review this month, I literally bounced in my chair when I read the offerings from the publisher!
Frantz, I have no doubt wove the story of Seamus and Sophie while curled in the arms of a soft chair with nothing but the sound of a crackling fire, scent of a bayberry candle and the scratch of a pen tip on paper to keep her company. As usual, her characters and story lines are developed and layered. She has an excellent way of relaying the angst, confusion, wants and desires of the characters while within the boundaries of social etiquette for the time period. However, we know that love has no boundaries, even in 1784!! I also appreciate that at the end of sections or chapters, she puts these poignant little one-liners or brief thoughts that drive the feeling home. I was pleased to see the quote from the Declaration of Independence at the beginning of chapter one. I hoped the subsequent chapters would have quotes like Frantz used in the Ballantyne Legacy, but sadly they did not. But, that's alright.
My only true "complaint", and maybe that thought shouldn't be titled as such..."concern" perhaps? I was never completely sure what Seamus' actions at Early Hall were all about...(I cant say too much) I re-read from that scene to the end and couldn't find an answer. I'm curious to know what that was all about and also the change in Seamus from wanting to jump into politics and going off to Williamsburg again to then...oops, cant say much more. More development may have been nice there...But perhaps word counts didn't allow? None-the-less, as the reader, you can see through the lines and make assumptions. And it didn't seem to effect the main story line. It just made me quirk a brow here and there.
As with most of Frantz books, I find myself befriending the characters. And inevitably, I feel a sense of loss when I must let them go. But in the back of my mind I wonder, what will the next adventure be for them? In wanting to join the characters in the next novel, I feel a little like Sophie before heading to Annapolis... "Her wayward heart was already counting the hours till she'd be back."
5 stars. I'd feel guilty giving it anything less!
(I was given this book for free by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
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Roscoe
A good walking buddy and awesome frisbee catcher! Life cut short by a brain tumor.
Tuffy
If ever there was a candidate for Dog Heaven, it would be Tuff. Tuff was put to rest December 7, 2012. At almost 14 years old, he threw the longevity curve for dogs of his breed-makeup and size. He battled 2 types of cancer and Cushing's Disease as well as arthritis. Faithful to the end and never grumpy, depite the constant care and nagging from me. Always the protector, gentleman and companion--you will be sorely missed by all who had the opportunity to know you.
Cranky Thomas
Ever wonder why it's called "Life On CT Farm"? The horse you see in the pictures is Cranky Thomas, a registered quarter horse gelding. He was born May 5, 1980 in Galion, Alabama and passed away August 3, 2004 on CT Farm--his farm. He originally belonged to my husband, but I adopted him and I think he adopted me. We competed together in contest classes at local horse shows. But, an old injury finally slowed him down and I retired him in 2000. He was a loving and patient being that I completely trusted and admired. There will never be another like him, never. He meant so much to me that I named our farm after him as well as my company, Cranky T. LLC. He's gone now, but is still with me and now you.
