Maggie's Turn

If ever there was a book that most of you could relate to, it would be this one.

Maggie's Turn - Deanna Lynn Sletten

Maggie Harrison is a devoted wife and mother, always putting the needs of her family ahead of her own. Then, one day, without planning to, she drives away, leaving behind an indifferent husband and two sulking teenagers. Maggie goes off on a quest of self-exploration, enjoying adventures, meeting new people, and rediscovering her passions. For the first time in years, she dreams about what she wants out of life, and she realizes that her deteriorating marriage can no longer continue as it is. Can she and Andrew repair their floundering relationship, or is their marriage over?

Andrew Harrison likes his life to be in perfect order. He enjoys his work and status in the community, leaving Maggie to take care of everything at home. He knows his marriage isn’t perfect, but after twenty-three years and two kids, whose marriage is? When Maggie leaves without a word, he is forced to start paying more attention to his home life and his almost grown children, and he begins to do a little self-exploration of his own. Slowly, he begins to understand what drove Maggie away, and how important she is in his life. Is it too late to resolve their differences and save their marriage? Or will Andrew lose Maggie forever?

I can tell you right now there have been times on my drive home that I've contemplated on just passing my street and keep going. Fortunately for my family, I'm perpetually broke so I'd maybe make a few miles and then be stuck and need a tow that I cannot afford because you know my ass would run out of gas. 

But that's exactly what Maggie does. In a marriage she isn't sure that will make it, she's unappreciated, she's stressed out, and she's fed up. Without any planning, she decides to not come home after dropping her daughter of for school. Instead, she travels west and with her camera in hand, she starts a journey that is more than just about her- it's about her marriage, her children, the family unit, and her happiness. She meets people along the way that encourage her to do what she's doing. Maggie is hesitant but ultimately continues on in the hopes of finding the person she once was. 

At the same time, her husband Andrew is left picking up the pieces once Maggie is gone. Andrew resents Maggie and feels like this is coming from left field and ignores all of the warning signs. Andrew made a poor choice that put the marriage in jeopardy and doesn't understand how Maggie can't just get over it. In that process, he discovers how out of touch he has been with Maggie as well as their two children, has no idea how to run a household and gets a trial by fire initiation to everything that Maggie does. 

Overall? Good book. I could relate to Maggie and how she feels. Sometimes I wish I had a stash a money where I could just leave it behind for a few weeks and see what Matt thinks about what I do. He'll often remind me I only work part time and he works 70 hours a week. Granted, that's a huge difference but I also do all of the school stuff, kid stuff and most of the house stuff. I'm the one keeping that house running but he doesn't place a value to that. Definitely check this one out- you'll enjoy it. 

I Know You Care

While driving a few weeks ago I was listening to one of my favorite albums of all time, Ellie Goulding's Halycon and I thought.. maybe I should do posts about songs that hit home for me and maybe tell the background why. Lord knows that album is like me, my story, everything. I can identify with it all and I could probably do posts every day about what those songs remind me of. But I'll start with this song and go from there.

I Know You Care


Matt and I will have been married for ten years in June. It's a huge feat and I don't care what anyone says. It's huge. Anyone who knows our story and what we've been through will agree- not many thought we'd make to this point.

And sometimes? Sometimes I don't know how we will either. Sometimes I don't know why I stay and other times I can't imagine being anywhere else.

Because for every awful thing I've dealt with, for every night I cry alone in the far corners of the house, for every time I have felt unappreciated, unloved, and more- there are other times where I look at him and I can't imagine not being with him. I look at him and I remember the young man when we started dating and how I had felt like I had finally met The One. Like finally I had someone who would care for me, be my rock, and never let me feel anything less than cherished.

I know he cares. I know he does. I can look at him and I can tell he cares but doesn't know what to do. So he does nothing. Sometimes I look at him and I can tell something is wrong, the other shoe is going to drop and he doesn't have the balls to tell me in an attempt to save himself. Sometimes I think he does this because he knows I'm strong enough to handle anything and while that's comforting to think he sees me like that, it also angers me because I have a right to not be surprised by bad things. I have a right to be told by my husband and not others.

I remember when we were just dating, and even just married- I would anxiously await for him to come home like a child. I would squeal and practically run him over. Weekends spent in bed were the life and I took it all for granted. Because I didn't know that my heart would be broken, that he would become complacent and take me for granted and I didn't know that staying in love was so hard. Because it is hard. It's really hard when it's one hardship after another and you're dealing with horrible depression and nobody tells you this.

But I still hope that someday, someday my Matt will come around. He will see what he's done to me as a person and care. I hope that someday he'll turn around and just be the same Matt he was when we were 20 and 22 and he was on bended knee telling me how important I was to him and how he didn't want a life without me. It's like he's trapped in a glass box and he wants to do better but can't figure out how to get out. Because I can see it in his eyes- he does love me. He does care. He does want to be everything I need but he's stuck inside. That's what depression does to a person. It's really awful. It's really awful to watch in someone you love so much.

Maybe the worst part, is knowing that I could do better. I could find someone who wouldn't leave me to cry alone in the dark, but that I wouldn't leave. I couldn't leave him because he would be worse off and I can't do that to him because he means too much to me. I can't be that selfish, and it's ironic because he is so selfish. But two wrongs never make a right so I'm here.

The Funny Adventures of Little Nani

My little book reviewer in training, Olivia, helped me with this one too. We've been having fun reading new books and it's kind of great to think she'll grow up to be a book junkie like her super awesome mom.

The Funny Adventures of Little Nani

Little Nani is a little girl who likes helping people. However, when she helps people the results can be a bit unexpected. Why is that? Little Nani is a witch! Or at least she wants to be a witch. With her magic wand, she will try to cast different spells to help her friends, but she won’t be successful all the time. Follow Little Nani in her funny adventures and meet her extraordinary friends. Funny ostriches, horses that love reading, super-fast turtles, grumpy zombies… Little Nani has lots of friends! You can also draw your own characters! Little Nani is willing to become a good witch. Will she manage to do it? Who knows? Read the stories and discover what happens next!

What an awesome book! Olivia and I really loved this one. First off, the characters are stinking adorable. Adorable to the point where this would probably be a cute cartoon. Nani tries hard to be a good witch, but she also tries to help people out. Unfortunately, she doesn't know her spells as well as she should so the wrong things happen. Think Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series. Olivia's favorite character was probably the zombie addicted to caffeine. Oh, and the horses who like to read. 

As a parent, I appreciate fun stories that kids can read that have subtle messages about larger issues. So you have those sprinkled throughout the book. It's age appropriate material, and at age eight, my daughter had no problem reading it and understanding what she read. This would be a fun classroom read, something that could be fun in the school libraries, even a fun little book as a gift for kids. The other cool thing about this book is that even though it's clearly aimed at younger children, as an adult even I was entertained and finished the book before Olivia even did. 

Dead Dreams

Looking for a thriller series? Here's book one in a series that is pretty promising, so far.

Dead Dreams - Emma Right

Eighteen-year-old Brie O’Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams--of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality.

Let's talk about an 18 year old who makes poor choices, shall we? The story is about Brie, aspiring college student who works two part time jobs to make ends meet. She moves out of her parent's house and into her own apartment but is on the hunt for a room mate, so she posts on Craigslist, like an idiot. Enter Sarah. Mysterious, secretive, incredibly wealthy Sarah. Despite every possible red flag and alarm going, Brie decides that she needs a roommate more than anything and Sarah fits the bill because she can clearly pay rent. 

The description really doesn't do this book any justice because while Brie does start having nightmares- that's not the real story. Unless it's supposed to be, judging by the title, and in that case that plot element falls a little flat. Basically- not enough time is spent talking about the dreams. What is talked about a lot is Sarah, the bizarre story she's telling Brie that makes absolutely no sense at all and the fact that Brie falls for it is just baffling. Really? You're going to... scam a bank, switch identities, and basically put all of your trust into a person who has already lied and/or omitted serious things from you. 

Yup, sounds legit. 

What gets me is the story ends right on a cliff hanger. Like a huge one. Not like other series where a major thing is tied up but you're left with questions. No, this is a stop in the middle of action type ending. We've got blood, we've got one girl making a discovery about the other, and she's on the verge carrying out the plan that makes no sense anyways because what? She's implicated in a maybe murder? Did the wrong girl get killed? Or is this really part of the plan to get rid of the other one? To say there are a lot of unanswered questions is an understatement. 

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller, this is yours. I finished this one in about three hours- easy afternoon read. Below is a rafflecopter to win $25 towards Amazon! WOO HOO! Check out Emma's blog, Emma's Facebook, Dead Dreams Facebook, Emma's Twitter, Emma on Google+, etc. 



"http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/2bf06798/" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rule

Oh ladies. Oh ladies, ladies, ladies. Just whip out your credit card, get yourself onto Barnes and Noble and pick this one up. Just do it.

Rule - Jay Crownover

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight–A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want–and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

First up, this is the first in a SERIES. You know how I am about a series, I cannot get enough. Let them never end. Then to make it even better, they all feature boys who are slightly on the fridge of what society would consider acceptable, and who gives a damn because Rule is pierced. 

Let me just let that sink in for you. 

Alright, back to the review. Obviously, I loved it. I love a good romance, I love the bad boy type, I love everything about this. It felt a little like the book Beautiful Disaster because you have Shaw, this beautiful and intelligent "good girl", but then you have Rule, equally handsome and intelligent but he comes with a load of emotional baggage. He doesn't particularly care what people think of his appearance but he's also guarded and has no idea how to have a functional and emotional romantic relationship but wants to badly. He messes up, she messes up and you watch them basically walk together. Throw in a crazy ex-boyfriend and some family issues and you have yourself a really great book that you will not put down. Like me, who read until 1:30 in the morning and was up at 6, looking (and feeling) like hell for work. 

But it's OK but it's worth it. The best part is that it even makes you consider nipple piercings. Not that I would do that because my nose was bad enough and that is now gone AND I've heard enough horror stories of what can go wrong with a nipple piercing to say no thank you to that. But for a solid 5 chapters I thought, maybe. Maybe it would be worth it. 

It was clearly the lack of sleep talking. I'm piercing free on my nipples, world. 

I highly recommend this one. I am excited for the next book, Jet, that I think is on my list to review and I believe the third one, Rome, is on my list as well. SQUEAL. 

Upir and the Monster Gang

This is one of two books this week that I had Olivia read and do a review for me. Which she clearly thought she was totally badass, so this was actually a lot of fun to do with her.

Upir and the Monster Gang - Sharron Thornton

















Upir, a young vampire, gets entangled in a secret plot that might change the monster world forever. He joins forces with Payne, a pumpkin headed scarecrow, Gusty, a smart aleck ghost, Isabelle, a purple eyed witch, and Hawthorne, a green hairy creature. Along the way their nights become treacherous when they have to dodge flying skulls, avoid man eating plants, run from a mad scientist and most of all, steer clear of Muriel, a gorgon girl with slithering snakes for hair. She and her nasty monster friends have vowed to destroy Upir and his gang.

First up, what a cool book! Olivia is eight and she really loved it. She said she liked Isabelle the best because she is a girl, she is a witch, and girl witches are the best. She also liked Upir because he is smart, even though he kind of started the whole thing. We both really loved the illustrations- holy cow were those cool. I mean, I know for books aimed at the 9-12 crowd you'll get a few illustrations and some of the books Olivia reads the illustrations are kind of lame. This one has far more detail and are the kind that libraries would hang up as posters encouraging kids to pick up a book and read. Olivia even said it was cool because it talked about bullying a little bit and they were talking about bullying at school. 

Overall? We both really loved it. Seriously, such a cute book for that age group, it's a story they can follow easily, and if it turns into a series- it's one that kids would keep reading all the way through. 

But in order to make this all happen, there is a Kickstarter project running from October 1 through November 16. Go HERE to watch a cute video about it, and hopefully donate a few bucks to help this project get off the ground. All of the money from the Kickstarter campaign is going to go to the publication of the first edition of the book. And just think- your donation of $20 (or more/less) could get the new Harry Potter off the ground. Can you imagine? It could be really great. OR, you could fulfill someone's dream to see their book in print. Either way, it's a win. 

Mind Without A Home

Whoa. If you have anyone near and dear to you with a mental illness? You need this.

Mind Without A Home - Kristina Morgan

Experience the inner world of a woman with schizophrenia in this brutally honest, lyrical memoir. Kristina Morgan takes us inside her head to experience the chaos of the schizophrenic mind. With the intimacy of private journal-like entries and the language of a poet, she carries us from her childhood to her teen years when hallucinations began to hijack her mind and into adulthood where she began abusing alcohol to temper the punishing voices that only she could here. This is no formulaic tale of tragedy and triumph: We feel Kristina’s hope as she pursues an education, career and builds friendships—and her devastation as the insistent voices convince her to throw it all away. Woven through the pages of her life are stories of recovery from alcoholism and her journey to live a fulfilling life.

I'm going to be honest and tell you right up front, judge me all you want, but certain types of mental illness scares the pants off of me. And by that I mean, I could never work with people with a mental disability because I could not handle it. I don't work well on the fly, I get scared and I don't know how to reason. It's terrible and I hate it. I should also say right now, I'm not one of those people who would turn the other way or refuse to be in a place with people with any kind of disability, I'm not that kind of jerk. I just don't understand it and fear comes from someone not understanding. 

This book? Made me understand it far better. 

The book is a bit jumpy, in that it jumps from one time period to the next, then back, then forward, etc. And that's OK because I feel like if you have schizophrenia, this seems like a logical way things happen. The author lives with schizophrenia is so incredibly open, honest, and endearing that you can't help but just want to hug her. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to be in her position and feel like either something is wrong with your or something is drastically wrong with the world. How incredibly terrifying would that be? Then when you look at the people around the person with schizophrenia, you get it. Friends and family are frustrated, scared, and want to help and it looks like the person with the illness isn't trying or appreciative. It's like those shape sorter toys- trying to jam a triangle in the circle hole and the circle being jammed into the triangle hole and nobody understanding why nothing is working. It's frustrating and when you think about a person maybe harming themselves or others, it can be scary. 

And I won't lie- the first thing I thought about was Amanda Bynes and just feeling a thousand times more sympathetic for her. She lived this out for the entire world to see and that is embarrassing and just so sad. What also makes me appreciate this book is the plea for treatment. Just like food stamps help people who are hungry, there really needs to be something better in place to help people who have a mental illness. Everything seems like an overwhelming feat in the beginning, but just think of how many people are out in the world, just lost. Lost, scared, and not having a clue what's going on with them. It's not right. Not in any way. 

But seriously- it takes a really strong person to live with schizophrenia, oh and throw some alcoholism in there as well, and you just want to gives this author a standing ovation because dammit. What a woman. Seriously. She may be flawed, but we all are. Not many can say not only are they living life, by they are kicking life's ass at the same time. Such a tremendous book and I highly recommend it.