Book Review: My Three Men

Happy Valentine's Day, lovers! Do you have any plans? We don't plan on doing anything because we are bro-kay, but that's OK. I always do a little something for my kids, nothing big, but it's just fun. If you're not busy and need a little somethin', somethin', I've got a read for you! 

My Three Men - Petra Sharpe

No job. No money. No prospects. When I get the offer of a lifetime from a hot stranger, what choice do I have but to take it?

When I shared a hot hook-up with a stranger at a bar to get my mind off my recent job loss, the last thing I expected was for it to turn into something more.

But it turns out that stranger was a high-flying CEO named Tyler, who runs a major company alongside his best friends, Will and Nate. And he needs a favor. His father won’t sign off on Tyler’s ownership of the company until he shows up with a wife on his arm.

Which is where I come in. Tyler’s paying me an insane amount of cash to play at being his fiancee on a vacation with his family. When it’s over, my money troubles will be done with and the company will be his.

But once we leave the city, I realize it’s not going to be so easy to play at romance with someone I’m so attracted to. And, with Will and Nate joining us, he’s not the only one I’m having to fight off feelings for…

When was the last time you read a MMMF romance? I honestly could not tell you when the last romance I read that wasn't just your standard MF, so I jumped at the chance for this when it popped up. In My Three Men, we begin with Anna, fresh off of being fired and out of options, she reluctantly decides to go for a night out on the town with her friend/roommate Suruthi, and that's where we meet Tyler. He's clearly got money, but he's handsome and listens to her woes as she drinks the night away. One steamy rendezvous later, and Anna is back to worrying about her next step because rent is due whether you have a job or not. 

Tyler then has an interesting proposal...literally for Anna, pretend to be his fiance on an upcoming family vacation to dupe his dad. Tyler won't be left control of the family company unless he can show his dad that he's responsible and has "plans for his future", which in his dad's eyes, includes a wife....and maybe kids eventually. Tyler has no interest in getting married, he quite enjoys the lifestyle he currently enjoys. Anna, for her part, is quite reluctant, but when she sees the dollar amount Tyler is offering her, she really would be an idiot to say no. Also, who is really going to say no to an all-expense paid vacation to Hawaii?? Anna soon learns that this technically isn't a family only trip as Tyler's business partners Nate and Will are also coming, both of which Anna is attracted to, and all three men have wildly different personalities, so Anna begins to feel confused over feelings she seems to be developing. 

I won't go over more than that since it's the bulk of the story, but let's talk about some hits and misses for me with this book. I am a fan of books that aren't dragging a story out, though I do wish this one gave us a little more. It felt like we never really got a full ending, some things were mentioned and that was that. I never got a clear explanation of how this MMMF was supposed to work long-term, and maybe that was the point, but I would have liked to have more, at least in that area. It almost felt like the author had more ideas and literally ran out of time so had to tie it up quickly. I also was really tired of hearing Anna's inner thoughts on being fired, how she's getting paid well for this, how she needs money, etc. At first it was fine because it's story development, but we don't need to be reminded of this every few pages, we get it. It makes it seem like her situation is far more dire than it probably is, I mean, go work at McDonald's or something, you'll find a job, calm down. 

I did really like the development of her relationship (is that what it is?) with Tyler. I really wished that we had gotten more from that because it felt like the author was exploring it and then just dropped the idea towards the end. He seemed like a really good guy at heart, and he was capable of the kind of relationship his dad wanted for him, he just didn't want to go there (for reasons never made clear). Also, for the premise of this being a MMMF story, the author also focused on the MF relationships (all three of them) equally and it felt like Anna had something distinct and special with each one, but collectively it was great, too. The steam of level is pretty high, and the book is short, so if you're in the mood for a quick read that will uh.... get the job done, this is definitely one to consider. 

Thank you to Red Clover Digital and author Petra Sharpe for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review! 

Book Review: How To Be Awkward

Full disclosure, I wanted to read this one 100% because of the cover. Honestly, we're only half way through January and I feel like this is how I will look getting through the entire year so.... I can relate to this author already. 

How to Be Awkward- Amanda Turner

From the New York Times bestselling author of This Little Piggy Went to the Liquor Store and Hair of the Corn Dog, Amanda Turner (previously writing as AK Turner) offers up a new collection of hilarity and embarrassment with How to Be Awkward.

Disclaimer: This book is not intended for the super cool. If you begin every day by setting an intention while doing yoga on a paddleboard (and somehow not falling off), you’re out of my league. If you are even semi-fluent in the Urban Dictionary, there’s little chance we’ll connect. And if you use a vaginal steamer, well, I think we’re done here. Especially if you don’t have a vagina. On the other hand… if your spirit animal is the blobfish or you regularly and inexplicably choke on your own saliva, we might be related. If you find intermittent fasting to be both cruel and unusual, I feel your pain. If your athletic abilities could best be described as blundering and oafish, I’m right there with you. It’s possible that we speak the same language. We should talk.

I have not laughed so hard while reading in quite a long time. I've read some funny books but honestly, I'm making a bold statement here.... I liked this better than Jenny Lawson's newest, or even Samantha Irby. Sure, I laughed with those, but I haven't identified harder with an author since Allie Brosh, and I've been with her since the start of her blog back in the damn day. Amanda Turner and I need to be friends. We're probably already friends and I just don't know it. 

She is your friend that you're slightly embarrased by and for, but dammit you invite her to everything anyways because if something is going to happen, it will happen to her. It's free entertainment. I am also that person, how many people do you know have gotten hit in the head with a magazine by a random person in the waiting room of a mental health clinic, you can officially say one... I am that one. 

Some of the essays a little longer, some are just 3 pages or less, and you will find yourself flying through all 26 of them. I finished and honestly, I want a part two. I'm over on the couch snorting and laughing so hard that I had to get up to pee several times because after four children, the ol' bladder ain't what she once was. I'm in denial and once step away from Depends at this rate, and I had no business reading this after drinking copious amounts of water. The book is funny, its thoughtful, it offers poignant life advice and what not to do, which is truly just as valuable. It's well written and an absolute journey. You will enjoy this one. 

I absolutely loved this book and I am actually going to buy a physical copy of it because anytime I feel like life is pulling a prank on me, I can pull this out and remember Amanda Turner has probably had it worse. (And I mean that in the nicest, most loving way a stranger could mean it as without being weird.) A huge, huge thank you to Red Clover Digital and Amanda Turner for having me on this tour and sending me a copy for review, I cannot wait to read whats next!

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Book Review: Penny the Horse, of Course!

Happy Friday! Do you have any planns for this weekend? I'm hoping to start a bullet journal (more on that later) and really finish up 2022 stuff and clear out my office to start fresh stuff for 2023. I'm actually kind of excited about it. 

To start though, lets look at this cute children's picture book. 

Penny the Horse, of Course!

Tatiana Christie

Being different isn't always easy, especially if you're the only pig on a horse farm. Still, Penny doesn't let that discourage her! Determined to make friends, she decides that all she needs to do is find a way to fit in better with her pals. By the time all is said and done, she will be as good as a horse herself!

When nothing she tries seems to make her any more popular in the stables, Penny worries she'll never be happy on the farm. But with a little love and understanding, the horses soon help her see that she's perfect just the way she is, and that there's room for everyone...of course!

If you're looking for a book to help a kiddo who doesn't quite feel like they fit in, this is a perfect pick for your home or classroom library. 

We have Penny, the lone piggie on a farm full of horses. Penny wants to fit in and feel like one of the horses, so she does everything she can to be one of them. She's not successful of course, and she's sad. The horses like Penny just fine the way she is, so they set out to showing her. It's a great story about learning to love yourself just the way you are, an important lesson for all children to learn as soon as they can, and while it's OK wanting to fit in, you shouldn't change who you are for the approval of others. I love the lesson of inclusion, including others who aren't like you because you might have lots in common and could be great friends. 

I loved the illustrations in this book, Lucy (my six year old) was a big fan of the book as a whole. (She also asked if we can get a pet pig, so.... guess what she wants for her birthday, in August.) The book is humorous and it kind of reminds me of the Thelma, the Unicorn books. I like the clever way to teach a lesson by using a fun story, cute animals, and some humor. Also, reading this book out loud has a nice rhythm to it, so if you're using this as a read-aloud it flows smoothly. I also liked the opportunities throughout to change your voice and make it a silly read, that's my favorite kind of picture book! 

Thank you to Red Clover Digital and author Tatiana Christie for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review. 

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Book Review: Speak Kindly, You're Listening

It's really appropriate that this is my first post of 2023 because one of my goals this year is to be kinder to myself. When you really take a step back and break down why you feel badly about yourself, its because you're saying really awful things about you. My goal is to quiet that voice, so this book came at just the right time. 

Speak Kindly, You're Listening

Have you ever thought of how you speak to yourself? The words you choose? The tone of voice? The pitch or volume? Just as you use different voices when speaking to a child, parent or lover, have you noticed you use a different voice when you speak to yourself?

Dr. Jessica heard her voice say on repeat: “I’m not good enough,“ “I’m not worth it, “What is wrong with me?” and used them as a way to motivate herself, until those words broke her. That inner voice belittled her and shouted insults. She didn’t understand how that same voice took care of cancer patients and loved ones but chose to call her names.

Being diagnosed with her own mental health concerns compelled Dr. Jessica to find the answer to the question, “Why do high-achieving women experience such a negative inner voice?” Speak Kindly, You’re Listening breaks down four key components: imposter syndrome, perfectionism, burnout and that dark inner voice while connecting the link between them all.

Drawing on her own experience, working with cancer patients and being a past education director, she has helped numerous women transform their voice from inner gremlin to inner cheerleader. A must-read for anyone wanting to explore the connection of their inner voice, confidence and self-intelligence.

Because if you wouldn’t say it to a friend or loved one, why is it okay to say it to yourself?

The last line is something I need to stick to my mirror so I see it as a daily reminder. I can honestly say there is not one person in my day to day life that tells me I have clearly gained weight. Nobody points out that I look six months pregnant (I'm not). Nobody tells me I'm clearly aging. Nobody tells me I need a hair cut (and color). I am the only person that tells me that. 

If there is only one non-fiction book you read this year, I highly encourage you to pick this one. It begins with Imposter Phenomenon, and I think we've all had that. Maybe we apply for a job that feels out of our league but what the hell, lets apply anyways, and suddenly you get the job. You're terrified that they are going to clearly see unqualified you really are and fire you. The book breaks this concept down but also goes through all the ways we develop this. I really loved the connection she made between perfectionism, "type A personality" traits and how this truly is Imposter Phenomenon at work and talks about why that is. As the oldest daughter in our family, I've always felt a lot of pressure to be successful and good at everything. I've felt pressure to be a great parent myself, a great wife, a great friend, etc. and there isn't anything technically telling me to step up my game. It's me. I'm the problem. 

Throughout each chapter there are some brain exercises/questions that really get you to stop and question what the heck you're doing that you never realized you were doing to yourself (or maybe even to your children). If you're a bullet journal type of person, these might be good things to include and maybe compare where you are at the end of the year. 

The last two chapters, Burnout and Darkness are the ones that really gave me pause and I realized a lot of is similar to what I've heard in therapy. There's a passage on page 140: 

"To me, burnout feels like you're constantly living in survival mode without an off-switch and without the resources to adequately feel successful. Over time, you experience nervous system dysregulation, because humans are not meant to live in survival mode for an extended period of time. As a reminder, survival mode is our fight-or-flight and freeze response."

This is particularly important for me because I do not have a working pituitary gland and while I can go into what that all means, the summary is I have little to no natural hormones, so I take the fake stuff. Just because I have a psuedo replacement doesn't mean it is anywhere as good as the real thing. One of the important things your pituitary gland does it pump out that adrenaline you get when you get scared, really mad, just the urge to really emote a feeling. You can do it, your body calms down and you start getting your normal cortisol levels. I do not get that. Well, I can muster up that burst, but that burst can burn me out for a little while, the whole day, it might throw my whole week off. So being in this constant state of burnout is likely one of the reasons I'm just so tired all the time, my body cannot keep up with this dysregulation. I feel so much stress working towards goals and finish lines that constantly move and I'm never going to pass, I'm making it impossible for me to cross that off my to-do list. 

In Darkness, the author talks about building a trust squad, basically your ride or dies. You can call them up at 2 a.m. and they will get you through the crisis. It doesn't necessarily have to be someone you talk and communicate with daily. There is a GREAT nine question checklist that you can use to go through the people you consider friends and even ride or dies, because it may shake up who are truly in those groups. 

Overall, I thought this was a great book. It's not a very long book at all, you can easily squeeze this in over a day or two, and it is full of exercises and thought provoking questions. I know the gift-giving season is technically over, but this is a great one to keep in mind to include in a gift for anyone. I think no matter who you are, this is relevant to you in some way, and we can all stand to be a little better to ourselves, because then we'll be kinder to others. 

A big thank you to Red Clover Digital for providing me a copy for review. You can find this on Amazon, and if you're someone who likes to annotate your books, this would be a great one to do that with. 

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Book Review: No, You Sit!

Happy Monday! We've got like 13 days until Christmas or something like that, are you ready? I feel ready. I've been sick and just generally not feeling great so that's kind of been a bummer. I'm getting through some books though, so there's that. 

No, You Sit! - PD the Pug

From the acclaimed author of Get Me Out Of Here! Reflections Of PD The Put-Upon Pug, comes every dog’s fantasy, brought to life in this hilarious rumination that uncovers exactly how to turn the master into the servant.

I haven't read the first one, this is my first experience with PD the Pug, so I went into this not knowing what to expect. It was a short book, you can read through this easily within an hour, so I can always appreciate a fast read. It was humorous and clever, I definitely chuckled because I can absolutely imagining some of these things going through my own Twinky's head. 

The book isn't just about pugs, other dogs are mentioned so your dog will feel included, so no worries. My Twinky has me fully trained, my entire day circles around him, his nap schedule, and his potty breaks. Perhaps Twinky has somehow communicated with PD because a lot of the tips mentioned in the book are things I've experienced with my little dog. 

Overall, this was a cute book, full of humor, and definitely something any dog lover/owner would really enjoy. Outside of that, I'm not sure who the targeted audience would really be. My seven year old even read it and she absolutely loved it, so I don't think I'm the demographic they are aiming for. It isn't a book I'd see on a table and think, "Oh, I'm going to buy this", it's more of something I'd see on a waiting room table and read through because its there and I've got time. The book comes in at 170 pages, but with the larger type chapter titles, illustrations, and generous breaks betweek sections, it reads quick and you'll get a smile (maybe even a laugh) or two. I thought the writing was good for the kind of book it was (I mean, its written by a dog, this isn't literary fiction). 

Thank you to Red Clover Digital for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review! 

Book Review: Saved by Hope

Hi, is it Friday? No? Well, crap.I am already struggling this week, feeling overwhelmed, and its only Tuesday. I need to just... be better about getting up at a reasonable time, staying on task, and doing what I need to do. I know if I do that, I can get everything done, it's just...... snacks and naps, am I right?? 

Saved by Hope- Jenny Lowe

Jenny Lowe was 34 when she sought help from fertility specialists. An unsuccessful IVF attempt to conceive her first child left her painfully aware of the sting and stigma surrounding infertility, and brought her face to face with something insidious fighting against her.

Saved By Hope is the honest and emotional story of Jenny’s continued fight for motherhood. She recounts raw and devastating realities of grief and loss while shining light on love, selflessness, and something that could never be taken from her: Hope.

Oh my. I knew going into this it might be hard for me, not because I've experienced a great loss like this, I've only had one miscarriage and I know what that felt like, I cannot imagine going through it more than once. I feel like every obstacle that could be thrown her way, Jenny Lowe experienced it. Her descriptions of hospitals, rooms, lights, sounds, are so real and so descriptive that they became triggering for me from when Lucy was born. I'm always grateful in a way that I can't remember that time because I think maybe I'd be in a worse place than I am now, even six years out, but wow. 

To say this book unexpectedly blew me away would be an absolute understatement. Jenny left me out of breath and only able to think "wow" at the end because this is an incredibly powerful story so many women are living out, often quietly. I loved her honesty and vulnerability, but also making it a teaching lesson we could all use, in that let's maybe not ask a woman when they are going to have a baby. Or jokingly give the "you know how babies are made, right" jokes, all things that are well-meaning but can be devastatingly hurtful to women who are already desperately trying and struggling. 

I also like how she touched on adoption and non-biological parentship, and how common it is to worry that either you won't bond with the baby enough or they won't bond with you. To be honest, I really worried about that with my first because I was as hands off as I could be because I had postpartum depression so badly, and then I worried because of that, my child would hate me. With Lucy, I was in the ICU for days and when I came out I wasn't really with it, and at times I didn't even remember I had even had a baby. No path to motherhood looks the same, but all paths are OK. 

If you are looking for a gut-wrencher, this is your book! It does contain triggers for pregnancy loss, grief, cancer, medical trauma, surrogacy, IVF, and depression, so know that going in. The book itself isn't very long but will absolutely keep you glued to it and pack a punch. Thank you to Red Clover Digital for my copy for review and to Jenny for sharing your story. Wow.  

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Book Review: Ghost House

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Do you even celebrate it? I'm not a fan of Thanksgiving myself, but this year we are driving to see my brother and his kids. It's just a down and back trip so I'll be rested in time to shop till I drop on Friday.  

Just kidding, I'm mostly done, I just need stocking stuffers so that's going to take me a solid hour to do if I walk slow. 

Ghost House - Sara Connell

Ghost House is a short story collection where the madwomen are out of the attic and roaming the streets of Chicago, New York City and Prague. This series of "modern feminist ghost stories" explores the line between magic and reality and all the ways women can be haunted, and redeemed.

I honestly think this might be the only short story collection I've read this year.... usually I have a couple but this year I'm not sure that I've read any other. I'm a fan of short stories, sometimes I just don't have the mental capacity to engage in a whole story, so I need short and sweet. If you are a fan of spooky and witchy, this is going to be right up your alley. 

With excellent visual mastery and word play, author Sara Connell gives us a collection of spooky campfire stories of sorts. My biggest complaint is that with a title with "ghost" in it, I expected hauntings, at least some unsettling feelings that could be attributed to spirits or something. The foreword of the book gave the impression that the stories we were about to read were going to be adult versions of stories we made up during sleepovers with friends. Now, maybe I had weird friends, or maybe we were all watching too much cable TV but I distinctly remember being terrified at some sleepovers and none of these gave me the "this is kind of creepy" vibe.  We didn't totally get that, and it doesn't make the book any less fun to read, it just seems like perhaps a different title would have been more suitable? That's probably me getting very technically and nit-picky, but I don't feel well this week so that's where I'm at. 

I don't know why but I kept thinking this would be a good palette cleanser of a book for someone just finishing The Handmaid's Tale or something similar and are still on the feminist kick. I liked the author making comparisons on "all the ways women can be haunted", because some of the stories really hit that mark. I do think maybe two stories could be turned into whole books, the characters were fleshed out really well, the writing was smooth and easy to follow, and while they weren't what I would call horror, I was engaged in them anyways. Overall a good read, a solid 3 star for me. 

Thank you to Red Clover Digital and author Sara Connell for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review!

Book Review: Praesidium

So.. you know that weird flu/illness thing going around where you feel like you've been hit by a bus, you've got the weird headache and you get nausea/vomiting and/or diarrhea? Yeah... I've got all of it. It's super fun and exciting. I feel like death has warmed over and when I look back in Facebook memories, it seems I get sick EVERY YEAR the week of Thanksgiving. Just another reason why Thanksgiving is the worst. 

Praesidium - McKinley Aspen

Kathryn Bek gets the chance of a lifetime: a job offer right out of college, and in New York City, where adventure lies around every corner. Believing she is recruited for her marketing prowess, she is excited by the prospect of her new job in the intelligence sector; but all is not what it seems. Before long, Kathryn and her new team are thrown into a world of mystery, murder, and magic. As the team rushes around the world, untangling the web of lies, she finds that her past may be the key to protecting her, and the world's, future.

Will she be able to confront her fuzzy past to unlock the secrets within herself? Can her team rise to the challenge and stop the Paolucci Crime Family before they unleash havoc upon the globe?

Who will endure, the Kathryn of the past, or that of the future?

Praesidium can simply be described as "Good people with mad skills working to bring hope to a dark world."

I haven't read a good fantasy book in a hot minute, so I jumped at the chance at this one. It's only 240ish pages, so it's a fairly quick read and I've seen good reviews on it. The story definitely has some holes in it and some flaws, but part of me wonders if that's on purpose since this is book one of a series, so while we don't get all of the questions answered in this installment, it has me hooked in for book two already. 

The story centers around Kathryn, fresh out of college and looking for a job. She is inexplicably recruited/hired in the same by a mysterious man, on behalf of an incredibly vague organization, with an even vague/broad mission statement/goal. The whole thing is screaming sketchy, but Kathryn doesn't have a lot of options or prospects, a job with room and board, and the promise of grand experiences? What college grad is turning that down? 

Of course, nothing is as it seems and Kathryn soom realizes she's part of a team who are thrown into a world of murder and lies, which isn't quite the marketing gig Kathryn thought she would be doing. The author does a good job unrolling the story and doesn't overwhelm you with information all at once, instead tossing little pieces as we go and leaves you to work it out in your head as you read on. I was worried Kathryn was going to be the annoying characters who knows nothing and is kind of useless in an adult world, but she is quite the opposite, she can handle herself (almost to a fault) and she's the right kind of heroine for the story. I do hope book two comes sooner rather than later because I don't want to forget key bits of information in the wait. I will probably re-read this before starting book two anyways, but this was unexpectedly entertaining for me. 

Thank you to Red Clover Digital and author McKinley Aspen for having me on this tour and providing a copy for review. 

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Book Review: The Girl in Duluth

You know I jumped on this review for the setting, right? I live in Superior (mentioned in the book!), which is neighbors with Duluth (just over the bridge), and everyone here is basically there at least once a week. I feel like I'm there enough to justify moving there but nah.... I'm staying on this side of the bridge. HA!

The Girl in Duluth - Sigrid Brown

When 18-year-old June Bergeron’s mother goes missing, June fears the disappearance could be connected to the unsolved murders of several women found in the woods near Duluth, Minnesota. As she starts to ask questions, she is pulled into an ugly and dangerous world of exploitation and abuse, and she discovers that everyone around her has been keeping secrets.

Set in a remote area of Minnesota on the Canadian border, The Girl in Duluth tells the story of not only one family’s troubled history, but of a shrinking rural community reckoning with issues of gender, class, and race. Candid and elegant, June’s voice also simmers with the uneasiness of a young woman who has suddenly become aware she can no longer be sure of anything.

Right off the bat, it is so weird to see places that you know, that you drive through frequently, or are generally familiar with show up in a book. I would be lying if I said I tried to bust out my Minnesota highway map to find all of the other places mentioned, but I couldn't. They were possibly made up, but I'm not sure. 

Alright, so the book begins with June, a teenager with an unreliable, possibly not real great mom, named Tonya. June is approached by Frank, Tonya's friend/we aren't really sure what he is to her, who tells her that Tonya is missing. At first, June isn't as concerned because Tonya has a history of disappearing for a few days without warning, but she always turns up. Frank is absolutely insistent that there is something wrong and that June come with him to search for her. At this point, I started getting weird vibes about Frank and honestly, they never went away, even at the end of the book when everything unfolds. Of course, Tonya is not found alive, and thus begins June's persistent investigation of her mother's death. She is absolutely sure it wasn't a suicide, but she's really the only one in that lane, but she's sure that it has something to do with the recent disappearances of girls/women in Duluth. 

We get a fairly large cast of characters (June, Frank, Tonya, Zee, police, newspaper editor, sketchy folks seemingly connected but we don't know how/why, etc.), and while this would add layers to most stories, it almost felt too much for me. It seemed like the author started handing us strings but instead of giving us a tight bow at the end, we've got a loose braid. I had to re-read the last third of the book twice to really understand the meat of the story. (Let me just insert here that the author definitely got the sketchiness of some of Duluth's neighborhood, and I definitely wouldn't recommend anyone hanging out by the large shipping docks, I can't say that I know of this area being a big human trafficking port. I mean, never in all my life have I even heard a peep about that on the news or even in rumor. Prostitution? You bet, we have actual "massage parlors" that very clearly are a happy-ending-only kind of place. 

Overall, while the beginning of the book was a bit slow for me, it seemed like it was a fast ride down the hills of Duluth towards the end. I appreciate that the author brings attention to a little known talked about issue of native and indigenious women and girls being victims of violent crimes and kidnapping with little fanfare because that is absolutely an issue we deal with around here. We have organizations and activists bring the topic to light, and every little bit helps. This is a problem all over, not just here, so it is something that we should all think about. 

My other quip is I had to keep reminding myself that June was only 17, she's still just a kid, because man alive..... she drove me nuts. I'm a parent to a 17 year old myself, so I understand what they are like, but phew.. she got to be a lot. Keeping in mind that she's just a kid, who lost her mom, and the rest of her life has now gone into a tailspin, so that helped to keep in mind. 

I think I'd give this one 3.5 stars, rounded to 4. It really is a fast read, and while the beginning is slow and you'll consider DNF'ing it, keep going because the conclusion leaves you looking at all of the characters completely differently. Thank you to Red Clover Digital and author Sigrid Brown for having me on this tour! 

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Book Review: Ordinarily Extraordinary

Hi friends! I feel like I've read quite a lot of non-fiction this year but honestly, I'm here for it. It really feels like this is the year for it and luckily for you, I have another one I think you should read. 

Ordinarily Extraordinary - Patrick P. Long

When Patrick Long’s wife, Melanie, suffers a terrifying stroke at the age of 45, a medical battle ensues that threatens to devastate their already cancer-altered lives. As Patrick strives to maintain normal routines for their four young children, he struggles through confrontations with doctors while watching Melanie suffer mysterious episodes that continually impair her speech.

Throughout weeks of distressing setbacks, Patrick reflects on their lives, candidly revealing marital clashes, personal trauma, deeply held secrets, failures, and regrets—along with the recognition of Melanie’s indomitable spirit that bolsters him even when cancer’s worst consequence takes the fight from them. Determined to set a positive tone for their family, Patrick rejects pity and finds inspiration in the extraordinary community surrounding them, vowing to not just survive, but thrive.

Ordinarily Extraordinary is a captivating true story interspersed with humor and wondrous revelations of the human experience. This fascinatingly rare and unique perspective of a surviving husband and father is a beautifully uplifting story of love and anger, life and death, and hope and inspiration.

I'll be honest, I thought I was going to fly through this but instead I found myself really struggling. Not because it was bad in any way, quite the opposite, it was so very good and it really hit home for me. If you know me in real life you know that I had a significant medical event, and while it wasn't cancer and I am obviously here to tell the tale, it has impacted my life greatly. Not just mine, but the lives of everyone in our family. My husband has really gone through the wringer, everything from thinking I was dead, to finding out I wasn't dead but likely heavily impaired, to realizing he was going to be a sole provider for six people, to getting me home and realizing that yes, I was truly impaired, to always worrying about me being OK while trying to keep four kids on the right path, and everyone housed and fed. It's a lot for one person to shoulder, and he does it well. 

A lot of what Patrick talks about in this book really reminded me of my husband. It was like getting a peak into his mind because the emotions laid bare in this book are so eloquently written and I felt like I was going through it again. Also having four children, I could identify with the same struggles and just the juggling act that four very different children, all at different stages, brings. I really wanted to just hug all of the kids because kids just are silent warriors sometimes and it's not for a lack of feeling, sometimes it's so much feeling and they kind of freeze up. Then to have all of these high (and low) emotions under one roof is so much and it is so hard. 

Patrick and Melanie's marriage wasn't perfect, but it was theirs. So many of their arguments were the same ones I have had with my husband. Similar struggles, similar arguments, so many of the same feelings. I was moved by how affected I was from this book that I feel like I'm struggling to tell you how much you should read this. While I think this is a touching memoir that anyone who has lost a loved one, especially to cancer, or witnessed someone struggle medically and have felt helpless, this is an amazing read for couples. So many of the situations they went through are incredibly common but all of them are things we always believe we won't go through. Not us, we're healthy, we have good jobs, we REALLY love each other, etc. 

Life obstacles literally care about none of that. Fate is cruel, the future is unpredictable, and life is hard. Those are the only things you can count on. 

This is a beautiful book. Melanie sounds like she was a pretty amazing person, and anyone who can befriend a bill collector is pretty alright in my book. I highly recommend this one. I also highly recommend loving on the people you have while you have them. Extra hard. 

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Book Review: Lockdown Hair (children's literature)

Now today is Friday eve and I'm here for it. I have a busy day of appointments, tennis, and dance and I am going to be exhausted by the time my head hits the pillow. I was just telling Matt that it feels like summer is going by at lightening speed but we haven't done anything. Well, we've done our anniversary trip, but that's it. We have to do something with the kids because they ask EVERY DAY if we're going to do anything fun this summer. Which.... we are, I just need to get it together and make actual plans. 

Lockdown Hair - Linda Steinbock

Uh oh! Siona's family needs her help!

Siona is worried about her mum going back to work at her hair salon while a dangerous virus is on the loose, making so many people sick! Siona decides to do something to help her mum cut hair and stay safe at the same time. She comes up with some creative and ingenious solutions, but will they work?

This fully-illustrated children's book serves as a humorous and sensitive way to introduce children to a public health crisis, lockdowns and the pandemic’s effects on working families. Siona comes up with clever, compassionate ways to keep her mum safe, all while learning to turn fear and anxiety into positive, constructive action. A perfect book for any family to inspire a conversation about ""the new normal"" during the pandemic.

I have to say, I really loved this. Penelope and Lucy did too, and they also offered some.... interesting suggestions on how to cut someone's hair from far away (one involved throwing scissors so yeah... we've put them up a bit higher). This book talks about people who had to go back to work during the height of the Covid crisis. In this care, Seona's mom works in a salon and the time has come for her mom to go back to work, but Seona is really worried about her mom getting sick, a fear many children have had for their parents in all kinds of professions. Her mom basically says she has to because have you seen what people have done to their own hair and guys- I SNORTED. I have spent a lot of time watching Covid hair disaster videos because WHY, people, WHY?! 

So right from the start, I was all in. 

Seona goes through each of the steps that her mom does while cutting hair and she thinks of creative alternatives that allow her mom to remain six feet away from people. If you like books that let you ask some discussion questions that allow for comprehension when reading, this book is PERFECT! You can have kids give their ideas, or make a list at the end of the book like Seona does. It's such a cute story that also reinforces that nobody is too small to have big ideas or to put change into motion, something we should be telling children all of the time. 

Also, the watercolor illustrations by Alexandra Rusu are so wonderful! Illustrators don't always get shout outs, but truly, these are pretty great. 

A huge thank you to Red Clover Digital for sending me a copy for review. 

 

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