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Bullies. Friends. Boys. Shakespeare. Demonic Dogs. Evil Spirits. You know, Sixth Grade.
Sixth grade is hard enough. When the school bully is on your case because you got the lead in the play instead of her, when the cutest boy in the whole class might actually like you but never makes a move, and when your dad is an alcoholic and you have to cook, clean, and take care of your little brother, the last thing you need is more trouble.

But Sally Prescott has more trouble than she ever imagined when she starts having strange dreams of demonic dogs, magical keys, and a wolf-headed spirit bent on her destruction. Her best friend knows a secret that may help, but she refuses to tell, claiming Sally made her promise not to.

As Sally's dreams start bleeding into reality, she realizes she is the only who can save her family. With a little bit of magic and a lot of determination, she'll get one chance to change her destiny and theirs. If she succeeds, she'll solve her problems at home and at school. If she fails, she'll lose everyone she ever loved.

Turns out sixth grade is tougher than she thought.

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If you've been keeping up with my reviews lately, you'll know that John is one of my new favorites in the Kingdom of Writing. I loved the first two books of his that I read and this one only falls slightly short of those.

Let me start by saying that I loved the characters in this book. I could connect with younger versions of myself and those that I know. I think that everyone will be able to see a bit of them in one of the characters within the book. Each one has their own personality and is well developed.

Here's my problem though. This book is supposed to take place during the sixth grade and these are not sixth graders. As mom to two teen boys, I'm frequently reminded of what happens during these years and I think that this book would have been much better set during the ninth grade. There is nothing like early high school drama and angst. Things like classes performing Shakespeare also would fit better into this not to mention the kissing and dating. I know that things are more progressive now, but I still don't know many parents who allow their 12 year olds to date.

My only other complaint? The story is really well written, but the reader is left not knowing why this entire thing happened to Sally. In their world is it normal for giant dogs to pop out of your dreams and into reality?

Other than that, I loved this book. The story is interesting and held my attention all the way through. I could sympathize with Sally's home life and problems. I absolutely loved her best friend, even if she was more than a little big gung ho at times. John is an incredibly talented writer and I promise that if I get my fingers on any more of his books, you'll be seeing reviews for them!



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.

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In her inspiring New York Times bestselling memoir, It Was Me All Along, Andie Mitchell chronicled her struggles with obesity, losing weight, and finding balance. Now, in her debut cookbook, she gives readers the dishes that helped her reach her goals and maintain her new size. In 80 recipes, she shows how she eats: mostly healthy meals that are packed with flavor, like Lemon Roasted Chicken with Moroccan Couscous and Butternut Squash Salad with Kale and Pomegranate, and then the “sometimes” foods, the indulgences such as Peanut Butter Mousse Pie with Marshmallow Whipped Cream, because life just needs dessert. With 75 photographs and Andie’s beautiful storytelling, Eating in the Middle is the perfect cookbook for anyone looking to find freedom from cravings while still loving and enjoying every meal to the fullest.

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Okay guys, you cannot imagine my excitement over finding this available for review. If you read my review of Andie's memoir, you'll know that I already think of her as my soulmate in food. Now, I get to see just what she's done in her own kitchen to help with her weight loss journey and I'm super duper excited! I should say that I was because I have already gone through this cookbook, but the reality is that even after going through it, I'm still just as excited.

(Warning...a spoiler for the memoir ahead...skip the next paragraph if this is going to bother you.)

First, let's start at the beginning...she dedicated the book to Daniel. Now, at the end of her memoir, they were no longer together, so you know me..I want to know what happened! Why? Well, you could say that I'm nosey or that seriously, after her memoir, I felt as if she were a dear friend. Either way, I went to her site and discovered that they're engaged! Woohoo!

Yes, I know that none of that has a thing to do with cooking or recipes or cookbooks, but hey, it was exciting to me! To get back to the cookbook though, let me just say that I can easily see this becoming one of my favorites. It's filled with delicious recipes that all appear to be incredibly easy to prepare. As a busy mom/editor/site owner/fill in the blank, I don't always have a ton of time to experiment in the kitchen so this is great for me! Plus, she included two full sections of more decadent recipes that are perfect for that special occasion or to share with others. Did I mention that the photography makes everything look absolutely delicious and that Andie is just as down to earth in this book as she is in her memoir? I can only hope I can do the same with mine!

My recommendation? The pairing of both of Andie's books would make an amazing gift to someone who loves both memoirs and cookbooks. I can't imagine anyone not loving both of them!




I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own.
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For the past few days, I've had multiple posts running around in my head, but I wasn't in a mental or emotional place where I could sit and write without it sounding like I was having some sort of breakdown. I want to start out by assuring everyone that I'm okay. I'm just having a really rough week, but I'm still here and I'm still fighting and that's the part that really matters. Now...on with the post....

Yesterday something happened that put me into a near panic attack like state for almost the entire day. It got so bad that I ended up with a migraine, which oddly enough may be the best thing that could have happened, but we'll get to that. So, what happened?

A friend of mine took the day off from work to celebrate his wife's birthday. He made her breakfast in bed, gave her amazing presents, and perhaps the best gift of all, he gave himself to her for the day. The day really was all about her. I'm sure you're shaking your head wondering what this could have possibly triggered. Fear. It triggered the biggest bout of panic and fear that I've had in a long time.

You see, I have a long history..39 years worth at this point of being tossed aside by nearly every single man who I have ever let get close to me and seeing what he was doing for his wife made me
afraid. I was afraid..and still am, though I'm working on it..that I will never have anything like that. I will never have anyone love me that much.

One thought..seemingly innocent.."I would so badly love for someone to love me like that." turned into a day of hell. My mind spiraled to the point where I was sure that it was impossible. If people saw me the way I see me...well, surely there isn't a single soul out there who could possibly love someone as messed up as me. I cried. I tried to fight my way out of it, but the harder I fought, the deeper I sank. I sank until I could no longer function and I gave up. I had a migraine, no rational way to explain the panic I was feeling, and nobody who I would completely subject them to the entirety that is the insanity that is my brain. So, I gave up. I shut down the laptop and I laid down on the couch. I tried to watch a movie, but I couldn't focus. My mind wouldn't stop. It kept right on going with its lies and nonsense... "You have an upcoming anniversary with someone and I bet they don't even know the date and they're not going to do anything special for you. You'll never be loved like that."

I don't know what suddenly changed. The movie was about over (Life of Brian, for anyone curious. I hadn't seen it yet and thought funny might help) and in the final scene, they start singing this ridiculous song, one I've heard over and over again and suddenly something clicked. All day long, I'd been thinking that I was jealous or envious, but the reality is that I was afraid. None of those three emotional states are rational, but somehow fear is easier to deal with. I know fear to be a way that depression keeps its hold. Depression lies and uses fear to help.

Fear is the reason that I don't lose weight. Fat is a buffer against rejection. When my ex-husband cheated on me and it led to our divorce, my grandmother asked me if I thought it had anything to do with my weight gain throughout our marriage. It hadn't, but the question was out there and as I laid there last night, silence in the house, I realized the fear is keeping me from a lot of things. I don't lose the weight because what if I did and nothing changed, nobody wanted to be with me. I don't go out (partially due to finances) because what if I met someone (male/female/whatever) and I liked them and then I never heard from them again?

Fear and depression pipe up in their twin voices with a single message. It's okay because you don't deserve those things anyway. Nobody could possibly love you or want to be your good friend with your past, with how you are. It's an incredibly hard mental prison to break free from. I've given my heart fully and openly, showed my entire self to just a few people ever and of those, two of them stopped talking to me and have pushed me completely out of their lives. Fear uses that as evidence that it's right.

Knowing that fear is trying to become the motivator in my life is a blessing. Remember I said that the migraine may have been the best thing that could happen to me? This is why. It allowed me to shut out all of the outside noise that bombards so many of us every day. No Facebook, no Twitter, no music, nothing but me and when I can get to the core of me, I can find the problem. Knowing the problem allows for me to find a solution. As you may have heard, knowing is half the battle. The other half is the fight to shut down those voices, but if Fear is the enemy of love, the solution is love. Loving myself and my flaws, acknowledging them but not letting them rule me. It's not going to be easy. I have over 30 years of conditioning to conquer. Still, if I can love myself, take care of myself, and yes, even spoil myself, I'll be doing the best thing that I can do.




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Nine contestants. One crown. Destiny awaits.

Garrick Tremaine was happy with a simple life as a soldier. But a mysterious dream has drawn him to Twin Falls, where the duke has died with no heir. A competition to claim the throne is open to anyone, but to win it, an aspirant must answer an incomprehensible riddle. Convinced it is Garrick's destiny to rule Twin Falls, his new friend, the oddball magician, Liliana Gray, pushes him to enter the contest.

But Garrick isn't the only one seeking the crown. A sanctimonious sorcerer, a hard-headed general, and a conniving criminal all aim to succeed the duke, and a disgraced elder from a foreign city has secret knowledge that may thwart them all.


As the contenders close in on the mysterious Blessing of the Fey, a goblin invasion, a dark god, and an enigmatic puppet master pulling strings from afar all stand in the way, and Garrick's destiny may actually be to die -- an unwitting pawn in A Contest of Succession.

An epic fantasy that continues the saga begun in The Sword and the Sorcerer!

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.....and we're back with book 2 of the Usurpers Saga! I don't know if it's possible, but I liked this book even better than the last one! Spoiler...book 3 is still being written and it's killing me! Hurry up, John!

Right..deep breathes...

I honestly enjoyed this book more than I did the first book, if that's even possible. I saw someone say the one thing that they didn't like about this book was the fact that there were no male/male relationships in it. That startled me because honestly, it wasn't something that jumped out at me. It wasn't a main plot point in the first book. It was just one of those things. This couple happens to be made up of two guys. No biggie.

This book is made up of an entirely new set of characters except for Liliana (I love that name so much!) and Vicia. We truly get to see the person that Liliana is as she steps into one of the main roles and we get to dislike Vicia even more in her role. I loved so many parts of this book but it's hard to talk about them without giving away plot points. Let's see...the characters in this book are just as well developed as the ones in book one. You really feel as if you know them and as if you're watching everything happening.

If I had one complaint it's that the Liliana (I'm assuming it's her) on the cover is not the way she's written in the book..or at least not in my mind's eye. Still, that is seriously picking at lint to find something. The storytelling kept me reading, even when perhaps I shouldn't be. I cannot suggest this series of books any higher. Honestly, I'm hoping that I get to read everything that this author has ever put into print.



I received a copy of this book for the purpose of this review. All thoughts, comments, and opinions are my own. 
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