The Key To Love

 

The Key To Love by Betsy St. Amant

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to read and review.  

Any book that revolves around the love for the city of Paris and sweets has me.  Bri, the baker at Pastry Puff Bakery in Story, KS is the perfect leading lady.  She dreams of one day visiting Paris where her parents met and fell in love.  She has a tribute to their love  and the city of Paris in the backyard of the bakery- a replica of the famous lock key bridge in Paris.  However, her focus throughout this book is the survival of the Pastry Puff.  She needs the bakery to stay open and be successful so she can walk and bake in the footsteps of her mother, the previous baker.  She decides to put the bakery on the map by posting a You Tube match making video that highlights the owners: Agnes and Mabel putting their match making skills to the test with Casey and Nathan (locals).  The social media post goes viral and in walks Gerard, the journalist getting the real story for the travel magazine he works at.  Bri and Gerard are the perfect couple as their stubbornness, feisty attitude, and general disdain for each other is quite evident from the get go and creates a great chemistry.    

As the story unfolds they both let their guards down and also open up about struggles each has had in their personal lives.  Will they be able to trust each other and let go of their preconceived views of life and love? I think their story is one that we can relate too.  

The book seemed to be a little slow at times, but overall I found this an easy, quick read with some realistic romance at front and center stage.  

 

Something Worth Doing by Jane Kirkpatrick

4 stars. Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to read and review.

Oregon +Suffragist movement= Abigail Scott Duniway's story
This book spans 1853-1912. I felt like the beginning was a little slow for me. I was transported back to my childhood of reading Little House on the Prairie books. There was a lot of heartache, challenges, and physical moves that Abigail and her family experience in the beginning of this book. She is an independent woman who takes on winning the right for women to vote. She also is a journalist, author, editor of her own newspaper, millinery owner, seamstress, business woman and public speaker. OH, yeah- and she had 6 children.

I thought this book was a great representation of trying to figure out the balance between being an independent minded woman, a mother, a wife, and a sister. Abigail didn't always come across being very present as a mother in this story, nor did she always seem over compassionate to her husband. However, maybe she couldn't be as she needed to be away from home so much regarding either her business or the fight to win the right for women to vote.

I found the frustration and the struggles Abigail had to come up against to help women gain voting rights some of the same frustration woman in current times have in regard to being seen as formidable politicians, vice presidents and even presidential candidates. When the vote doesn't get passed the first time I felt pain and defeat for Abigail (reminded me of when Hillary didn't win). I'm amazed at the ability for people to persevere and continue the fight.
I loved Abigail's determination to move forward after the first defeat in stating...
pg 267 "The only thing to displace the bitterness of defeat is the taste of victory." Abigail heard herself say those words even though she wasn't sure she believed them anymore. "We begin again. Grief cannot hold us back. We are wiser but not worn down..."

Reminder- we can never give up to fight for the rights of all humans.

 

Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to review.  

A 4 star read by Amanda Cox.  I enjoyed this book from the very beginning to the end.  I really liked the way the story unfolded both in the past and in the present.  The skipping back and forth between time periods per chapter kept me intrigued and wanting to read more.

Present day- Ivy has the job of going through her recently deceased grandma's estate.  Ivy has always wondered about her birth history as she was adopted at 3 months of age.  Her grandmother is leaving her clues to find the story she has been searching for.

1994-Harvey, the homeless/hermit in the forest, finds a baby deserted in the woods.  He has never felt loved or part of a family and this baby has changed that loneliness and emptiness.  His heart and life is full, but how is he going to take care of the baby: feed her, cloth her, and keep her housed and safe.  

Those two stories collide to find a story about a how a family and unconditional love comes from those who may not have the same blood relation/DNA.  It is a story that has a few trigger warnings: domestic violence, and infertility.  

Great writing and story!

August Reads...

    

        

August was a great month of reading for me.  Some of these books I've already posted on and some I've yet to post on in Instagram/Facebook.  However, I've been getting away from posting my monthly recaps on blog post and decided that since this month of reading was so eccentric and full of great reads I wanted to do a brief recap to really highlight some of these great reads.

14 books- 10 "hand held" books, and 4 audiobooks, 11 4 star reads and 3 5 star reads

Books I've already posted on... A Life Once Dreamed, The Switch. 

Books that will be receiving their own post as they are Advanced Reader's Copies (ARCs): Group: How One Therapist and a Circle of Strangers Saved My Life, Eventide by Sarah Goodman  Both very different books, but both excellent!

So lets start with the books that I'm still WOWED by...

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson  Honest, educational, empowering memoir.  I keep thinking about how brave some authors are when they write memoir.  This author is one of them.  George has written this book to tell his story, but I really feel he wrote this book to support other kids, teens and adults who may find their own life story similar to his.  He wants people to not feel alone or abnormal.  Each chapter focuses on a specific subject or story highlighting part of the author's life.  He tackles LGBTQIA+ tough topics and experiences, but I also felt this book so beautifully showed how his family loved and accepted his black queer self.  

The two toughest chapters for me to read were on his experience with being molested and also his first sexual experience.  This honesty is needed and I really applaud George for his bravery and ability to share his full story.  

Dear Church: A Love Letter from a Black Preacher to the Whitest Denomination in the US by Lenny Duncan  A very needed read for the current times.  I'm again amazed with Lenny's bravery in being totally open and honest with his story about his church/life experience.  I truly feel this book could be applied not only to church life but community and personal life.  There were so many great quotes from this book and my take away from the read was we/I need to wake up and move towards loving and care all God's people as Jesus did/does are we are in BIG trouble.  

Favorite lines from the book:

pg 18 We need justice to be the heart of our work and life, not just something we do for "God's Work Our Hands Sunday". (Side note...he isn't against "God's Work Our Hands Sunday" he is just saying it's not enough).

pg 35 Diversity is not assimilation in the same way grace is not the law.

pg 78 People are deciding not to come to our churches because we have allowed them to be country clubs where we pantomime discipleship to be German/Swedish cultural centers, no because we finally go the courage to live God's own children.

pg 125 Our churches are emptying because we have become navel-gazing social clubs that are more concerned with the fund to keep the organ alive than funds for refugees.  

Just a few more highlights...

Sometimes it is good to take a break from heavy topics and return to a reworked classic... Beauty: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley  A great YA read, but also don't shy away from it if you aren't a young adult.  I found this book entertaining.  I loved the back story of Beauty's family before she even meets the Beast and that story begins.  I also appreciated the author's introduction of Beauty not being known for her beauty almost like a play on words for her not being very princess like.  I liked this different take on the typical "princess" and the Beast picture.  

I continue to work my way through listening to Louise Penny's Armand Gamache series.  One of the books I listened to this month I still rate as one of my favorites in the series "Glass Houses".  Interestingly the other book "Kingdom of the Blind" is not one of my favorite "listens" in this series; however, I did enjoy that book in written/hand held form.  Sometimes I find it harder to listen to certain stories on audio because of changing story lines or different characters from each story crossing over into the other story line.  Note to self sometime audio is better, and sometime the hand held reading experience is.  

Lastly, for some reason I've been craving going back to reading the James Herriot's series based on the story of veterinarian life in the Yorkshire Dales.  So I've been pulled towards reading some books that take place in that region- Dying in the Wool- the first in the Kate Shackelton mystery series takes place in Yorkshire and I found it a great cozy mystery to be reading and will be picking up others in this series.

A great month of reads.  Let me know if you have any questions or comments about any of these books.  Happy September Reading!

A Life Once Dreamed

 

A Life Once Dreamed by Rachel Fordham

4 stars.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review and read.  I've read back to back books that take place in the "pioneer's West".  I enjoyed the setting of this book, Penance, South Dakota Territory 1880.  

Agnes Pratt is the single school teacher who in her 6 years of living in Penance has gained the respect of her students and is a valuable member of the community.  Many in the town wonder if Aggie will end up a spinster as she's shown no interest in being courted by any of the single men, mainly miners, in the town.  Enter the new town doctor- James Harris.  He, like Aggie, is from the East coast, actually the same home town of Aggie- Buffalo, NY.  This is not coincidence for Aggie and James grew up next door neighbors, childhood friends which led into childhood sweethearts and a proposal from James over 6 years ago.  

Something made Aggie flee that engagement to her best friend.  She ran away to Penance to start a new life and try to forget the love of her life, while she figured he would move on and marry and start a family.  His appearance in her town of Penance throws her off her game.  The reason why she left suddenly all those years ago is discovered by the end, and I can say I loved the twist/reason behind her departure.  It brought to light a subject I haven't spent much time thinking about, but I think it is one that still today can affect the lives of children who then grow to be adults.

This was a great read with many great characters and I liked where the author took the story.  

An Appalachian Summer

An Appalachian Summer by Ann H. Gabhart

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to read and review.

Piper isn't getting younger.  She has her debut/coming out in her hometown of Louisville, KY.  She was "wooed" by a possible suitor, Braxton Crandall, who her father has shaken hands with in regard to marrying Piper.  Piper, during the "coming out" ,although with Braxton, was constantly on the look out for her life long friend Jamie Russell.  Little does she know Jamie was there, in the shadows, watching her on Braxton's arm.

Following the debut her mother and aunt host a well known woman, Mrs. Breckinridge, who has funded the Frontier Nursing Service (nurses from England and beyond who are knowledgeable in midwifery, and nursing care) and other charitable healthcare services, hospitals etc.  The FNS serves those who live in the Appalachian mountains.  The tea with Mrs. Brekinridge  is a way she can call for charitable donations towards this effort from those of Louisville high society.  She is also asking of more when she gives Piper the offer to come and be a Frontier Nursing courier for the summer.  This is just the escape Piper is seeking because she is not ready to be married off to Braxton Crandall, especially when she can't stop thinking about Jamie.

I loved the FNS and the FN courier part of the story.  I wish there could have been more focus on the FNS work.  I enjoyed reading about the lives of the Appalachian people who were cared for by the FNS.  

The story reminded me of Catherine Marshall's "Christy".  It was a quick and easy read, perfect summer reading.  

The Key To Everything

The Key To Everything

by Valerie Fraser Luesse

5 stars.  Thank you to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for sending me this book to review.  This is my second book to review from the author- Valerie Fraser Luesse- and it was my favorite thus far.  (I highly recommend her book Almost Home, too).

Why did this one stand out... it was a story of finding yourself through a journey.  I think it is ironic this is the third book with the main story line being a bike journey for me in 2020.  I'm not a big fan of biking, so don't see me taking to the road, but I will live vicariously through these bikers' stories.  

Peyton, the main character, is 15 years of age.  He has had some major changes come about in his life, within a short period of time: father back from WWII Pacific theater, has a girl he's dating- Lisa, father is dealing with PTSD/alcoholism after returning from the war, an accident occurs sending Peyton to live with his Aunt Gert for awhile, and there is this bike trip his dad did when he was 15 years of age from St. Augustine, Florida to Key West always rumbling around in his head.  

The bike trip is the backbone of the story.  Peyton is pondering following in his father's footsteps and doing the long ride to Key West as a way to reconnect with his father.  Events occur and the bike trip happens.  I loved the people he met along his journey to Key West.  I loved the side story of his parent's relationship. I also appreciated the way Peyton's own love story evolved during this book, because it didn't take away the lime light from the story as a whole.  

I flew through the 352 pages in 2 days as it was an engaging read and also a great get-away read (a book that takes you away from your own reality).  I look forward to reading her first book "Missing Isaac" and any new books on the reading horizon.  

Standoff

Standoff by Patricia Bradley

3 stars.  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review. 

This is the first in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series.  Brooke Danvers is becoming a Law Enforcement Ranger.  She is ready to be commissioned by her father, a LE ranger himself,  and work  while learning from him.  Unfortunately, there are many road blocks in her way to becoming LE Ranger Brooke Danvers.  This book starts out with drug, money laundering, and accounting books that the numbers don't add up.  Within the first chapter you are introduced to Brandon who is gathering information to build a case to show the unlawful actions of his employer.  Chapter 2 you are introduced to Luke Fereday (former high school sweetheart of Brooke Danvers) who is working undercover back in his home town.  His excuse for visiting is his grandma Daisy's recent surgery and her needing care following rehab.  Chapter 3 another character is introduced- Kyle- the father of Brandon- who is staking out a drug drop going down within the national park.  As you can see multiple characters, multiple story lines, and that is where I struggled with following the book and finding the story believable. 

I liked Brooke a lot, but felt like it really was more Luke Fereday's story- high school jock returns to home town, while no one knows he is undercover trying to find evidence to put a major drug dealer behind bars.  I liked the premise of setting mystery/murder in a national park.  Alas, just not the right mystery for me. 

Untamed

Untamed by Glennon Doyle

4.5 stars.  I have fallen back in love with Glennon's writing.  I first fell in love with her writing when I found and devoured her book "Carry On Warrior".  I remember writing down so many ideas/quotes from that book.  I just really felt like it was some of the best authentic writing I had read.  (Her writing reminded me of another of my favs- Anne Lamott).  Then came her next book- "Love Warrior".  This book spoke less to me, and I felt like it was not the same voice I came to know in "Carry On Warrior".  Enter, "Untamed".  I again am so in awe of her honesty, her smart writing style and her way to tell her story which speaks to my own story.  Thank you Glennon for this read.  Very needed and WOW do I have some pages full of notes/quotes/ideas from this one.  Here are some of my favorites from the book.  

pg 28 We're like snow globes: we spend all of our time, energy, words, and money creating a flurry, trying not to know, making sure that the snow doesn't settle so we never have to face the fiery truth inside us- solid and unmoving.  

pg 56 When a woman finally learns that pleasing the world is impossible, she becomes free to learn how to please herself.  

Pg 75 We do not need more selfless women.  What we need right now is more women who have detoxed themselves so completely from the world's expectations that they are full of nothing but themselves.  What we need are women who are full of nothing but themselves.  A woman who is full of herself knows and trusts herself enough to say and do what must be done.  She lets the rest burn. 

pg 180 Five flavors of cream cheese is not how to make a child feel loved.  Five flavors of cream cheese is how to make a child an asshole.  

pg 201 The truth is that it matters not at all what you think of my life- but it matters supremely what you think of your own.  

pg 206 (The following is in regard to the election of our current President of the US)... "No listen- this feels to me like we've hit rock bottom!  Maybe that means we're finally ready for the next steps.  Maybe we'll admit that our country has become unmanageable.  Maybe we'll take a moral inventory and face our open family secret: that this nation- funded upon "liberty and justice for all" was built while murdering, enslaving, raping and subjugating millions... Then maybe we'll gather the entire family at the table- the women and the gay and the black and brown folks and those in power- so that we can begin the long, hard work of making amends.  I've seen this process heal people and families.  Maybe our nation can heal this way, too."

pg 209 If I want to know how I'd have shown up in the last civil rights era I have to ask myself: How am I showing up today, in this civil rights era?

There is more, but I must stop, for I don't want to give ALL the good stuff away.  This book made me want to work on my life and be a better human being. I think that is a sign of a good book.  Thanks Glennon!

Silent Shadows

Silent Shadows (Harbored Secrets #3)

by Natalie Walters

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing company, for sending me this book to review.  This was the third in the Harbored Secrets series and the second book for me by author Natalie Walters. I was sad to read at the end of this book that this series comes to a close with Silent Shadows.  I enjoyed the first book in the series as the stories take place in the tiny town of Walton, Georgia. This story returns to that tiny town.  The story has that Southern charm mixed with murder/mystery caper type of read.  In this story our main character Pecca Gallegos is a nurse who is working at a home for wounded veterans.  She has come to the town of Walton to escape her past, which includes gang involvement and her son being born out of wedlock.  Her story seems interesting enough, but then you add Army veteran Colton Crawford who is suffering from a movement disorder and is one of Pecca's patients to the mix and I found it a great read.  His story was intriguing to me as it looked at the way the mind can so control the body through no conscious control of the human who is inhabiting that body (i.e. his movement disorder).  This army veteran isn't an old guy- he's actually Pecca's age- in his 30's.  I think you know where this is going.  I appreciated the way Natalie covered multiple areas of building this story through mini story lines with multiple characters.  

Natalie Walters does a great job of respectfully portraying armed forces veterans in this book and the first one of the series.  Somehow I missed the second one in this series, but look forward to picking it up in the near future.  Natalie can write about the armed forces perspective honestly since her husband is in the army.  She also has a lovely way of incorporating faith into her stories.  I needed a little diversion from COVID-19 pandemic and this was the perfect read to do that.  

Braving the Wilderness

Braving the Wilderness

The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone 

by Brene Brown

4 stars.  I've been trying to read through my physical "unread" shelves in our reading room.  This book was gifted to me last year and with the recent COVID-19 pandemic upon us I felt like the title was speaking to me.  So I picked it up and read it pretty quickly.  I love Brene's honesty, empathy, and her ability to share how her research has not only impacted her work, but her personal life/well-being too.  I was not surprised to be using many of my book darts (see what these gems look like).  

Think of them as paperclips, but much kinder to our book's pages as a way to mark quotes/lines that the reader finds interesting.   

This book, I feel, is about finding your true self/authenticity, and belonging to yourself and no one else.  I think it takes a very brave, courageous, driven person to find their true belonging.  Here are some of my favorite lines from this book.

pg 6 The need to fit in and the ache of not belonging was one of the most painful threads in my own life.  I couldn't accept the idea of "belonging nowhere" as freedom.  Feeling like I never truly belonged anywhere was my greatest pain, a personal suffering that threaded through most of my pre-adult life.

pg 25 I can confidently say that stories of pain and courage almost always include two things: praying and cussing.  Sometimes at the exact same time.

pg 35-36 Four Elements of True Belonging:

1. People Are Hard to Hate Close Up.  Move In.

2. Speak Truth to Bullshit.  Be Civil.

3. Hold Hands. With Strangers.

4. Strong Back. Soft Front. Wild Heart.  

pg 40 True belonging is the spiritual practice of believing in and belonging to yourself so deeply that you can share you most authentic self with the world and find sacredness in both being a part of something and standing alone in the wilderness.  True belonging doesn't require you to change who you are; it requires you to be who you are.  

pg 46- Sorting Ourselves Out

As people seek out the social settings they prefer- as they choose the groups that makes them feel the most comfortable- the nation grows more politically segregated- and the benefit that ought to come with having a variety of opinions is lost to the righteousness that is the special entitlement of homogeneous groups.  We all live with the results: balkanized communities whose inhabitants find other Americans to be culturally incomprehensible: a growing intolerance for political differences that has made national consensus impossible: and politics so polarized that Congress is stymied and elections are no longer just contests over policies, but bitter choices between ways of life.- Bill Bishop

pg 48 The sorting we do to ourselves and to one another is, at best, unintentional and reflexive.  At worst, it is stereotyping that dehumanizes.  

pg 58 In the case of the United States, our three greatest fault lines- cracks that have grown and deepened due to willful neglect and a collective lack of courage- are race, gender, and class.  

pg 67 But what we know now is that when we deny our emotion, it owns us.  When we own our emotion, we can rebuild and find our way through the pain.  

pg 75 We must never tolerate dehumanization- the primary instrument of violence that has been used in every genocide recorded throughout history.  

pg 87 "This is who I am."

         "This is where I am from."

         "This is my mess."

         "This is what is means to belong to myself."

pg 102 To know you can navigate the wilderness on your own- to know that you can stay true to your beliefs, trust yourself, and survive it- that is true belonging.  

pg 144 Facebook was the catalyst.  Face-to-face was the connection.

pg 149 We can spend our entire life betraying ourself and choosing fitting in over standing alone.  But once we've stood up for ourself and our beliefs, the bar is higher.  A wild heart fights fitting in and grieves betrayal.  

pg 160 

• Belonging is being somewhere where you want to be, and they want you.  Fitting in is being somewhere where you want to be, but they don't care one way or the other.   (Side note- this line reminded me of my friend Cheryl who stated "when I turned 40 I decided I get to pick my own friends"- look for those who want you there and who you want to be with).
• Belonging is being accepted for you.  Fitting in is being accepted for being like everyone else.
• If I get to be me, I belong.  If I have to be like you, I fit in.  

If these quotes have enticed you into reading this book I would love to hear what you think and if you started living differently after reading her book.  This book made me think about life, about being myself and finding true belonging in my own skin/being.  

The Happy Camper

The Happy Camper by Melody Carlson

4 stars.  Thanks to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending me this book to review.

This book was a needed read this weekend.  With the heaviness in the world sometime you need to escape to another person's life.  When this book first arrived in the mail my daughter, a 6th grader, was interested in the cover and opened the book and started reading the first chapter.  She asked if she could read it and I said "of course".  She loved it.  Her comments were, " a Hallmark Movie plus more realistic".  We plan to have a little book club discussion soon.  

Dillon Michaels is in her early 30's lives in Colorado and is in a job she doesn't like (over worked and under appreciated) and in a relationship with a boyfriend who doesn't appreciate or respect her. She receives a call from her mom, Margot, telling Dillon that her grandfather is struggling.  Her grandfather had fallen into depression after losing his wife, her beloved grandma, within the last year.  Dillon had always been close with her grandparents, and so she never thought twice about leaving her job and breaking up with the boyfriend and moving home. Her hometown is in Oregon and along with her grandfather's welcoming her home her town does too.  

This move home is where the story really begins.  Dillon finds herself with the ability to start over, start afresh, and find herself.  She meets challenges with this new start- figuring out where she will stay in her grandfather's home as Margot (she calls her mom Margot throughout the book a hint to their relationship) has moved home also after leaving a relationship with her long term boyfriend Don.  Dillon also needs to figure out how to make some money being unemployed.  She through her becoming familiar with her hometown meets some old friends and new.  

The combination of realism and romance was really quite delightful and really made this book an easy quick read. My only complaint was that I felt the book ended a little abruptly- would have liked a little more buildup to the end or an epilogue telling us where Dillon was "a year" from now, etc.  Sometimes that is a sign to me that I didn't want the book to end.  I previously read "Christmas in Winter Hill" by Melody Carlson and highly enjoyed it too.  She will be an author I look forward to reading more of.  

Creative Calling

Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis

5 stars.  Thanks to @photo52240 for gifting this book to me.  It was a needed read for my current "state" in life.  This year, 2020, has been a little "meh" so far for me.  I digress a little here, but once I share the following you will understand why this book is so needed- right now.

January, the month, as a whole has always been tough for me.  I don't think until the last few years I was honest about this "toughness".  I denied it's affect on me physically, mentally and spiritually. I know part of the January "blahs" stems from seasonal affective disorder (changes in season brings on blah feelings- think Iowa winter after all the fun of Xmas).  I think I first became aware of it almost 4 years ago. Besides my SAD the lady I voted for in the 2016 presidential election lost to our current president.  It was November 2016.  After about 2 weeks post election disbelief I then was preoccupied with Thanksgiving (my husband's favorite holiday, followed by our anniversary) then came my favorite holiday Christmas.  Then I decided to start Lent early (my favorite season of the church calendar) by getting off social media (facebook wasn't helping my January mood due to continued "hate" posts by friends and family- both sides of the political aisle- in regard to election outcome).  Then "you know who" becomes president and it is "done deal" and the world moved on.  That January was tough.

Fast forward 4 years later and this 2020 started off not great.  The next part will likely sound very "vain" but its the truth.  I had my annual physical Jan 2nd and after three months of devout work outs (6 days/week), no "treats" Nov/Dec except on Thanksgiving day, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day I found myself to be at a not happy place on the scale- overweight!  Funny how a number on the scale can really affect your mental well being and outlook on life.  So I put on my "big girl pants" and decided I had to buckle down and slay the "elephant in the room" my "eating/drinking".  I've vowed never to return to "diets" as they aren't life sustaining for me- no measuring foods in containers, logging food in my phone, and no "No Carb" days.  It just isn't realistic.  Yes, I always lose a ton of weight (a ton for me is the 10 lbs I need to lose right now), but I can't maintain that eating lifestyle.  So I will work on eating more mindfully and do what I know I need to do- minimize carbs, eat more veggies, stay away from sweets, etc, etc.  

So I have my "big girl pants" on and then I get hit with laryngitis, followed by a bad cold/virus- likely the cause of my laryngitis.  I missed work for 2 weeks (side note- thanks to my awesome colleagues who saw my patients for me).  I didn't really work out as I wanted and I had no motivation to look at my diet, but the "sickness/plague" was a diet in itself as I lost weight last month- likely from not wanting to eat and living on chicken noodle soup for almost 2 weeks straight.  

OK- so the digression is coming to an end.  I was in a bad place by the end of January- despite being some pounds down- enter February and this book.

This book is based on Chase Jarvis' "IDEA system":

• Imagine your big dream, whatever you want to create—or become—in this world. 
• Design a daily practice that supports that dream—and a life of expression and transformation.
•  Execute on your ambitious plans and make your vision real.
•  Amplify your impact through a supportive community you’ll learn to grow and nurture.

It is a book about the creative process (hobby or professionally), but I truly feel this book is so applicable to living life.  

I used almost my whole tin of book darts marking my favorite quotes and ideas.  I think the following quotes will speak for themselves  and will support my suggestion of reading this book . Chase finishes the book saying, "What matters most is that we didn't just talk about it, we did it." (pg 293 Acknowledgments). Strong words that motivate one to live life to its fullest.  

So here are my favorite quotes/ideas from the book...

pg 1- " There's no such thing as creative people and non-creative people.  There's just people who use their creativity and people who don't.  And not using it doesn't go without penalty.  As it turns out, unused creativity is not benign, it's dangerous." - Brene Brown

pg 17- The goal isn't to create a masterpiece; the goal is to make a masterpiece of your life.

pg 23-In fact, it's only by creating in small ways every day that we come to understand that we can create big changes in our lives when we desire or need them most.

pg 25- Most of us have a gap in our lives between where we find ourselves and the life we actually want to be living.

pg 28- It doesn't matter who you know, what schools you attended, which parties you're invited to, or what you're wearing.  Creators create.  Action is identity.  You become what you do.  You don't need permission from anybody to call yourself a writer...You just need to write,...You've got to do the verb to be the noun.

pg 73- This in-it-to-win-it mentality is the polar opposite of a creative mindset, which is abundant, resilient and full of potential.  Aiming to be "better is a dead end because it means you're walking in someone else's footsteps and trying to catch up.  Life gets so much easier once you decide to play your own game.  Don't just try to be better.  Be different.  

pg 79- Sometimes, making a lot of different things at once is a way of hiding.  If we scatter our energy and never finish anything, we never have to share our creations and risk rejection. 

pg 84-  (I think you could sub "new project" for other "subjects/topics" in your life... i.e. vacations, trips, jobs- i.e. What is the goal of the vacation? for instance or even a person i.e. friendship/relationship...)

When you consider a new project, take out your notebook and answer the following questions:

            What is the goal of this project?

           Why am I doing it? What do I hope to get out of it?

           What is the worst thing that might happen if I fail?

          What steps can I take to reduce risk and mitigate failure?

         Is it worth it?

pg 99- Marcus Aurelius said 'The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.'...The state of your mind, body, and spirit is the direct result of all the decisions you've made in your life up until this moment.  

pg 100- To achieve a new mindset and transform your life, you have to believe two things: your situation- whatever it is- is changeable for the better; and you are capable of making that change happen.

pg 100- If the elation of joy we experience when we're doing what we love feed us, it only follows that being out of alignment with our authenticity drains the vital energy required to make and share creative work.

pg 101- Little did I know at the time that I was developing a rare but powerful tool: quitting stuff I wasn't meant to do.  This is a tool you must wield to create the life you want.  

pg 103- The core principles of a stable creative mindset are:
You are a creative person.
The world is abundant and full of possibilities. 
Your situation can always be changed.
You can use your creativity to create the change you seek.
Creativity is natural and healthy but requires practice.
Creativity is ultimate personal power.  
Unfortunately, you can't adopt a creative mindset just by reading this book.  Repetition of corresponding actions is necessary to develop it.

pg 110- I recommend you fast from news as much as possible. [Gasp.]The reality is that you will receive the news you need to.  We live in a culture where the news is ubiquitous...That sludge of unending negativity takes a vicious toll on our creativity and overall well-being.  

pg 112- At this stage in my life, it's become impossible to ignore the fact that the good days-when I feel great and doing my best work- have common elements.  For one thing, they're intentional.

pg 113- Become so good at the fundamentals of your craft that they become automatic and effortless, like breathing, walking, or chewing gum.  

pg 116- In short, move your body, and your brain will follow.  The neuroscientific data is clear: changing your physiological state changes your blood chemistry, which in turn drives your mood and mental clarity...Movement is a creativity catalyst.  

pg 117- Too many of us start our days consuming instead of creating: browsing the web, watching TV, whatever.  We become audience members and critics.  Our thoughts get sucked into what other people are doing, how well they're doing it, and the response they're getting from the world.  

pg 127- Let's be real: we give away too much of our time to things that don't serve us.  

pg 129-Ultimately I realized that there was nothing noble or romantic about being busy all the time.  It just meant I didn't have my shit together.  

pg 130-Being effective is about using every minute thoughtfully and mindfully as you make steady progress toward your dream.

pg 133- Ask yourself: What do you have on the calendar that you love? And were do your hours feel wasted?  (Ask these questions after two weeks of documenting/tracking where your time goes in 30 minute increments- put everything into categories from meetings and calls to chores and eating- be honest)

pg 134- Your behavior needs to match your goals.  This is not about productivity; this is about aggressively doing what you need to do to be successful as you define it.  It's about showing up for yourself.  

pg 151- You'll get better only once you stop fiddling and start making.  

pg 164- On my podcast, Jared Leto said, "I only succeed a little because I fail a lot." To find success, lean into failure.  

pg 174- What changed everything for me was showing up, over and over, wherever my heart and my intuition told me to be- even if my brain was telling me I had no business being there.  

pg 186- The new obstacle is figuring out which dream to pursue and then cultivating and applying the necessary energy to engage in that pursuit.  

pg 222- Community is extremely valuable in creative work.

pg 224- The author and motivational speaker Jim Rohn once said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.  Choose wisely.  (Side note- I have heard this quote about "the five people" several times in my years of listening to podcasts and reading self-help- I don't know that Jim Rohn gets credit for this quote when people use it).

pg 267- Brene Brown shared with me that she keeps a tiny list in her wallet with the names of a handful of people who matter most to her. Whenever she feels the weight of other people's opinions too strongly, she consults the list. "Have I let any of these people down? No? Then I'll be okay."

pg 279-Enthusiasm is more powerful- and ultimately more valuable- than confidence.  Confidence is all about yourself- you develop it by repeatedly orchestrating successful outcomes...Enthusiasm inspires confidence and energy in others.  

pg 286-7 So many of us live our lives with a nagging sense that something important is missing...I've come to believe that creative expression is the missing element in a life well lived.  

pg 288- we watch for predators and miss the sunsets entirely.   This hardwired instinct is a liability in the modern world.  It's literally poisonous.  Negative thinking releases stress hormones, raises blood pressure, suppresses your immune system and leads to a host of other health problems.  Negative thinking impairs your cognitive ability and memory.

pg 289- The best antidote to negative thinking is creative doing... Small, daily creative actions bolster positivity and inspire resolute thinking...Think about the kindest person you've ever met.  Positive or negative disposition?

pg 293- Lastly, to all: what matters most is that we didn't just talk about it, we did it.  (Had to quote it again!)

Epic Crush

The Epic Crush of Genie Lo 

by F.C. Yee

My third book to review for Multicultural Children's Book Day.  Thanks to Amulet Books New York and Abrams The Art of Books for sending me this book to review.  #ReadYourWorld.

Star ratings to me are more about my enjoyment when reading a book (whether a book is for me or not) and less about writing critique. That said I’m not a fantasy person and this book is Asian fantasy. Genie-Lo is a high school volleyball player at a private school prepping her for Ivy League, fingers crossed Harvard. She’s a little unusual because she’s a really tall Chinese girl who likes to play front row blocking the ball. Genie quickly becomes involved in saving her Bay Area from Chinese demons with her new found friend Quentin (aka Sun Wukong~ half man half monkey ~ the monkey king). I think this book is right up junior high level reading and any kid into martial arts, fantasy or Chinese culture would enjoy this book. Just not one for me. Here is some further information on Multicultural Children's Book Day. Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators. Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.

Thurgood Marshall

The Making of America Thurgood Marshall

by Teri Kanefield

I'm dealing with a nasty cold and laryngitis and so digging into my stack of books to review for Multicultural Children's Book Day.  Thanks to Abrams Books for Young Readers New York for sending me this book to review. #ReadYourWorld

Embarrassed to say I knew very little about this amazing man.  Teri Kanefield's book tells the story of the man who won Brown vs Board of Education, reversed Plessy vs Ferguson and ended segregation in schools.  I enjoyed how she not only tells Thurgood's story in biography form starting from his childhood all the way to his death, but also the way she taught me about American history.

This book is a quick read.  Many other famous people who are connected through relationships or events with Thurgood Marshall are introduced throughout the book: Martin Luther King Jr., JFK, LBJ, Ruth Bader Ginsberg,  and Rosa Parks to name a few.  She also introduced information relevant to our American history: three branches of government, the supreme court, appellate courts, the Constitution and how different groups interpret what the amendments within the Constitution should mean for the American people .

I'd recommend this book for later elementary through junior high grades, but really as an adult I learned much through this reading experience.  I will be picking more of Teri's books up as she has many in "The Making of America" series: Alexander Hamilton, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B Anthony, and FDR to again name a few.

Here is some further information on Multicultural Children's Book Day.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.

This Train is Being Held

I am honored to again be reviewing books for the Multicultural Children's Book Day who's official date is 1/31/20.  I have been sent a box full of books to read and review in honor of MCBD.  My first pick from my pile was so enjoyable the other books have a lot to compete with in this one.

This Train is Being Held

by Ismee Williams

5 stars.  This book epitomizes what Multicultural Children's Book Day is all about.  Its topics span racism, profiling, mental health, and socioeconomic differences.  Thank you to Amulet Books, Abrams The Art of Books for sending me this book to review.

Isa Warren and Alex Rosario could not be any different.  Isa is a blond, half Cuban/half Irish, ballet dancer who lives on Park Avenue. Alex goes to a public high school near Yankees Stadium.  His school is known to produce some great baseball players and he is one of them.  He also is Dominican-American, parents are divorced and his father lives in Brooklyn, and used to play for the Yankees.  Alex is from the "other side of the tracks".  However, they have similarities.  They are both very passionate about their activities: dance and baseball.  They both are very close with their families.  They also have secrets in their lives that they aren't sharing with each other or anyone.  They meet on the train/subway and from there the relationship and story grows.  

What kept on striking me throughout this book is how I will never know what it feels like to not be a Caucasian woman.  I will never know how it feels to be judged by the color of my skin.  This book again and again reminded me about how easy it is to make judgment of others without really knowing their story, who they are, who they really are.  

I also loved the way the author used the subway as a setting, but it was more; it was a character in the book.  I loved visualizing the people, the sounds, and NYC through the subway's eyes.  

I also really enjoyed how she melded language in this book.  Some of the dialogue between Alex and his friends, parents and even Isa included Spanish.  The author did a great job of writing the dialogue in Spanish and then having the English fall behind it for those of us who've been away from our 8th grade Spanish class for too long.

I'd recommend this book for 8th-12th graders.  Perfect YA- I call it perfect because that type of YA is enjoyable for all readers, even adults. 

Lastly, I didn't read the bio of the author until the very end and she's not only an author, but a pediatric cardiologist.  I'm a pediatric nurse practitioner who works in pediatric cardiology so loved this extra connection.  

The following is further information about MCBD.  #ReadYourWorld
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.

Let It Snow

Let It Snow

By Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle

4 star read. Good winter selection. 

My favorite story was the 1st one. “The Jubilee Express” by Maureen Johnson. Jubilee is on a train to be with her grandparents in Florida on Xmas Eve. She is traveling because her parents are in jail. They have been arrested as two of the Flobie 5. There is a annual Xmas eve sale of these small,decorative holiday homes/buildings and the crowds became “crazed” at this year’s sake (think Black Friday shopping but for Xmas decor). Jubilee’s train never makes it due to the weather and her train is stuck in Gracetown. Instead of staying in the train she heads to the town’s Waffle House. She is befriended by Stuart and from there the story evolves. I really liked this story for the quirkiness of both main characters and the descriptive writing ( I felt like I could visualize the setting so well). 

The 2nd story- The Cheertastic Miracle- is written by John Green ( yep Fault In Our Stars author). His story picks up from the Waffle House and the team of cheerleaders who were also on train to a cheer competition ( really on Xmas eve?).  The story line for this one is all about Tobin, Duke and JP’s adventure getting to the Waffle House where their friend Keun is working. Keun has challenged them to bring a game of Twister to the Waffle House so they can hang out with the group of cheerleaders. The catch two other workers at WH have called their friends (the Reston twins and the college guys) and given them the same challenge. First friend group to get there wins. Others will be left out in the cold. I liked the genuine friendships highlighted in this story. 

The 3rd story- The Patton Saint of Pigs- by Lauren Myracle focuses on Addie, a teenage girl who just recently broke up with her boyfriend right before their 1 year anniversary. The story follows Addie through Xmas day and highlights her friends Dorrie  and Tegan. A lot of Addie, Addie, Addie in this story. Drug on for me a bit. The story did connect the dots to the other Characters from the earlier stories and I liked the way the book wrapped up. 

Of note Netflix made this book into a movie. My son has seen the movie and read the book. His opinion the movie is better. 

Circe

Circe by Madeline Miller

3 stars.  Circe is a Greek enchantress "who lived with her wild animals on the island of Aiaia.  She is the daughter of Helios (Titan God of sun), and nymph Perse... In the Odyssey (side note- a book I didn't enjoy or follow when I read it in high school), she turns Odysseus' men into pigs, but after he challenges her, she takes him as a lover." (pg 386).  

This book read like an adventure story with a little romance thrown in.  I enjoyed the first 2/3's of the book, but the last 1/3 just drug on for me.  It became a "broken record" for me- who was going to screw Circe over again?  I was intimidated by this book because of the theme of Greek mythology and the fact that so many of my friends/family really enjoyed this book.  For some reason when things are hyped up for me I normally can guarantee disappointment.  Overall I found this book extremely "readable" I thought Madeline Miller did an impressive job writing about Greek Mythology in a "readable" fashion while introducing multiple characters throughout Circe's story.  I  did struggle to keep the characters straight (who's who of Greek gods and mortals) and would have appreciated a character list... oops there was a character list, but I didn't find it until pg 386- after the story was done.  Note to author/editors put the character list up front for us Greek Mythology challenged readers.  

I thank my friend/bookie for sending me this book to read and pushing me to my limits in the challenge to read about Greek Mythology.  We all need a little reading challenge sometime.  

2019 Year in Reading Review

I read 90 books (goodreads says only 89, but for some reason my review and rating of Edward Rutherford's "Paris" didn't get added to this year's count).  Approximately 29,209 pages with the longest book being 897 pages and the shortest book being 40 pages.  5 star reads from this past year- 13.  Here are my top picks from this past year's reading experience.

    

  

Ok so I lied, here are my top 6.  My best reading month was June- I read so many great picks from Anne Bogel's Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading list.  I had a goal of reading longer books this year and focusing on more quality and not just quantity.  Despite reading a handful of books that were longer (500+ pages) I still managed to get a lot of reading done this past year.  Audiobooks are one way I get more "reading" in my life.  When I'm walking/working out, when I'm driving into work, or on road trips I get some great reading in that way too.  Here are some of my favorite audiobooks from this past year.  If you haven't given audio a try I'd highly recommend it.  I first started with nonfiction/memoir/biography, but I have moved to fiction too.

     

Lastly, one of my favorite "reading" memories from this past year is being on What Should I Read Next's podcast hosted by Anne Bogel.  I was on episode 173 (https://modernmrsdarcy.com/173-episode/).  It was such a surreal experience.  I so enjoyed talking books with Anne and so appreciate her recommending some books to sink my time and teeth into.    The added bonus of being on this podcast are the added reading friends I have met via social media/internet world.  We now communicate via Instagram and get to share our love of books and recommendations.  One reading friend was even so kind to send me a little reading snail mail gift- so sweet!  Following that episode  I was then called back to be a part of Anne's 200th episode (https://modernmrsdarcy.com/200-episode/).  So thankful and grateful to be included in this "reading experience".  2019 was a great year of reading.  I'm excited to see what 2020 has in store for me.  

Still: 7 Ways To Find Calm In The Chaos

Still: 7 Ways To Find Calm In The Chaos

by Jenny L. Donnelly

2 Stars.  Thank to Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for sending this book for me to review.

I was looking forward to this read due to wanting some REST in my life.  The premise of the book was the author was going to share how "to experience true, life-giving REST in the middle of chaos."  I thought it sounded perfect and much needed.  The author's answer, Jesus.

There is nothing wrong with this answer, and some of the book spoke to me and sounded reasonable, but I'm just in a different part of my faith journey.  I just felt like I was judging myself and my own relationship or lack of relationship with God while reading this book- not something I enjoy when trying to enjoy my reading experience.  

Jenny shares the 7 ways to "find full, surrendered REST" are:

1. Lean into God

2. Letting go and trusting God with your life.

3. Cultivating Intimacy with God

4. Putting on the Garments of Praise

5. Lying in the present in God's presence and power.

6. Entering the Garden, abiding with the Gardener

7. Wrestle into REST (deal with painful parts, irritations and frustrations in order to settle into REST).

I did find some favorite quotes from the book:

pg 60 "When we do 'religious' things but don't sense God's presence, we are alive and dead at the same time."

pg 73 "The key to total healing is found in total forgiveness."

pg 76 "I've heard it said that all fear can be narrowed down to one or more of the following 3 fears:

- I'm all alone

-I have no one to help me.

-I don't have what it takes."

pg 139 " To find REST, we must practice being right here in whatever conditions that we find ourselves."

pg 142 "Living in worry will steal your REST."

Not quite the way I wanted to start my 2020 reading season out, but alas you never know what your experience will be with a book until you dive in. 

December Reads

I'm finally sitting down to share my December Reads with you. I also plan to share my 2019 reading year in review later this week.   Wanted to let you know some changes will be coming with 2020 reading season.  I'm not going to post a month's worth of reading reviews any longer.  I'm going to move to an individual review for each book.  I will keep track of my "reads for 2020" with another graphic book case, but I won't being sending out a reading/month review.  I'm making this change because I feel as if my reviews are getting stale, less authentic and more forced.  I'm hoping spending time on each book individually will help improve my writing and will make the reviews more enjoyable for all involved.  So here in no particular order are my December reads.

The Nightingale Before Christmas

by Donna Andrews

3 stars.  Audiobook.  This time of year I am a sucker for a holiday story and the premise behind this one intrigued me.  It was a murder mystery set during the holidays.  The characters and suspects were primarily home decorators/interior designers.  These home decorators were assigned rooms in a house in which they were supposed to decorate in whatever holiday theme they wanted all vying for the big prize money to the room that was picked the holiday winner.  As can be suspected the designers were all full of different personalities.  The main character of the story was not a designer, but instead was the manager of the Christmas house project.  She is entangled in the murder from the start.  

I just couldn't get into this story.  I didn't overly enjoy the voice of the narrator on this audiobook and the characters were not likable.  

Knife by Jo Nesbo

4 stars.  I love this series.  It is #12.  I highly recommend starting from the beginning as there is back story from previous books that seem to build on each book in the series.  The detective Harry Hole is back at it again although he really isn't "legally" back at it.  This book just really caught me by surprise.  There is a murder that I just didn't seem coming and sometimes those type of murders make the best books. Harry, of course, is going to solve the mystery and find the murderer.   Jo Nesbo is a great writer and I find his style of unfolding a story so unlike other mystery writers.  I can't give you much more information otherwise I will spoil this book.  I have not read all the books in this series- for some reason I started toward the middle (my favorite is The Snowman # 7), but I will continue to be excited when I hear another Harry Hole book is out on the shelves.  

Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn

4 stars.  I love me a good romance/love story.  This is our book club pick for January and I finished it quite quickly as the story moved at a nice pace as it wasn't all hearts and flowers.  Meg is a professional, she gets paid to write.  She designs wedding invitations and one of her old clients (Reid) has an issue with a wedding invitation she worked on for him and his then fiance.  The invitation had a secret code within the lettering.  Reid wants to know why she wrote this code in his wedding invitation.  Due to needing the answer Meg and Reid become intertwined first as acquaintances, then friends, and possibly more.  I liked the realistic story line.  I liked that everything didn't seem to come easy to Meg and Reid and their relationship was tested.  

Hope and Other Punch Lines by Julie Buxbaum

4 stars.  Abbi Hope Goldenstein is just trying to be a normal 15 year old girl.  She is working at a summer camp and really enjoying the status of being unknown.  For you see she is famous.  She was Baby Hope, the baby in the photo being carried out of the South Tower of the World Trade Center on that infamous day in September 2001.  At the camp Noah Stern discloses to Abbi that he knows who she is and if she helps him with a "project" he won't share her secret with the rest of the camp counselors.  His "project" is to interview all the other people caught in that iconic "Baby Hope" photo.  He tells Abbi he is doing this for his school newspaper, but he has ulterior motives for wanting to interview all who are in the picture.  

I thought this book did a great job of portraying not only the events on 9/11, but the aftermath of this horrible day in history.  Julie Buxbaum knows how to write in a respectful yet honest voice on tough subjects.  I had previously read her book "Tell Me Three Things" and loved it (5 stars), so this one had been on my TBR for awhile. I'm glad I was able to read it before 2019 ended.   I plan to pick up many more of her books as she knows how to keep a story moving and the content of the story is always multi-layered and deep.  

Bear Town by Fredrik Backman

4 stars Audiobook.  This was my second try with listening to this book.  The first time I just couldn't get into it.  My second time was spurred on by a friend who highly suggested I give it another try.  So I did and I really enjoyed it, if you can say that about a book that has some tough subject matter (can't share much and give the story away).  The book is based on a hockey team and a town who loves and fully supports this hockey team.  The book revolves around the "big game" and there are multiple characters giving their side of the story.  Flash backs I enjoyed in this book.  The hockey parts of this story I enjoyed too, but were also tough sometimes to hear as the sport can be brutal to the body and the mind.  I was interested to hear there is a sequel to this book- "Us Against You" and I plan to put that on my audio listening list soon as I'd like to see how Backman develops the sequel and moves this story onward.  

Note to self- sometimes giving a book a second try, especially when a friend highly recommends it, is a very good idea.