Review Break

I am starting a certificate program in Health Coaching in a few days with the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, so I will be taking a break from blogging about books and tea.  I hope that once I get into a routine, I will be able to have the time to return to posting once a week. 

I will continue to enjoy reading and tea during my hiatus, and hope that you all do too.  Right now I am reading The Keeper of the Crows by Kyle Alexander Romines.  It is, so far, a terrific horror / mystery set in Gray Hollow, a small farming town in Kentucky. It has some pretty good characters.

If you follow me by email, Facebook, or Bloglovin', you will receive notification of any posts and updates on this blog.  Thanks so much for reading!


                     


                                            

Justice Gone

Title: Justice Gone

Author: N. Lombardi, Jr.

Publisher: Roundfire Books, 2018

Pages: 322

Genre: legal thriller, mystery

Obtained: from author in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis: After Donald Darfield's best friend, who fought alongside him in the Iraqi War, is killed by the police, someone murders the three policeman that had been involved.  Donald is arrested for the crime.  Can Donald's legal team and counselors win the court battle?

Thoughts: This was a good book.  I liked that it involved some heavy topics- how veterans are treated, the way the homeless are regarded, and police brutality.  The mystery was a good one and I was surprised at who committed the murders in the end.  The characters were developed and the writing style was organized and clear, which made the story easy to read.  The story moved at a good pace and I wanted to keep reading, but I wouldn't say I felt much suspense.  The settings were described, not in a way that I felt like I was there, but just fine if the reader is all about the mystery and courtroom showdown.

If you like a good mystery or legal thriller try this one.  Just be aware there are some bloody descriptions and bad language, and many of the vets have disturbing flash backs. PTSD is a major topic in this book.


 
                                                                  

This morning, I enjoyed a cup of Earl Grey Creme tea.  I purchased this canister from Art of Tea.  The ingredients were organic and biodynamic Sri Lankan black tea, organic cornflowers, organic oil of bergamot, and natural flavors. The leaves consisted of medium sized twisted black leaves with some long, purple flower petals mixed in.  The scent of the leaves was of very strong bergamot. I put one teaspoon of leaves into my tea ball and poured eight ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves.  I let this steep for three minutes.  The brown liquid had a much milder scent of vanilla.  The tea had a rich, robust taste that is balanced by citrus, vanilla and bergamot flavors.  This is a tea I drink often, mostly in the morning.  It has a medium caffeine content.  If you like earl grey tea, this is definitely one to try. Don't be fooled by the scent of the leaves or the liquid.  The taste is a wonderful blend. 

The Stranger Diaries

Title: The Stranger Diaries

Author: Elly Griffiths

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019

Pages: 337

Genre: mystery

Obtained: ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review






Synopsis: One of Clare Cassidy's colleagues is found murdered.  Who did it? Is the answer in Clare's diary?

Thoughts:  I really enjoyed this book.  It was a great mystery that kept me guessing.  I liked the writer's style and how she organized the book.  She jumped between narrators and showed some of the same occurrences from different perspectives.  It was repetitive at times, but didn't drag the story down because it was interesting to discover what each character thought about what was going on.  Also, the author did not overlap everything- just enough.  She wove in a short story by the writer who Clare, the main character, was writing a book about which added to the creepy feel of the setting.  The focus was on the mysteries (there was more than one), not gore and horror.  The setting of a private high school, part of which included an old building called Holland House, that had mysteries of its own, was a fantastic place for this story to unfold.  The characters were developed and interesting and there was even a dog, Herbert, who I would also consider a character.  I need to check out other books written by this author.  She has written two series that I have not tried yet.

I recommend this book to mystery lovers, dog lovers, and diary lovers. 


                                                                    

Today I enjoyed a delicious cup of Royal Garden tea from my tea of the month club by Plum Deluxe.  This is a black tea and peach blend that I have been enjoying hot, but will be making it iced as well, when the weather warms. I highly recommend this Tea of the Month Club.  It is a wonderful Mother's Day gift for tea lovers.  There are two options.  I get the one ounce of tea per month which is just enough for me, but there is an option to get one ounce each of two different teas per month as well.  Also, you get a one cup sample of another tea and discounts, offers, and free shipping on purchases.  I also enjoy the weekly email that arrives in my inbox each Sunday morning (the perfect time) with news from Plum Deluxe and a special thought to ponder for the week.

The Doldrums

Title: The Doldrums

Author: Nicholas Gannon

Narrator: Bronson Pinchot

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, 2015

Format: 5 compact discs, 6.25 hours

Genre: juvenile fiction

Obtained: library




Synopsis: Archer B. Helmsley longs for adventure.  It must be in his blood since his grandparents were famous explorers who got lost on an iceberg.  Will Archer have his adventure?

Thoughts: My son and I listened to this audio book in the car.  We both really liked the narrator who did a wonderful job bringing this story to life, but while looking at the author's website I discovered some of the illustrations, which the author created himself, and I feel like we missed out. They are fantastic!  Also, the author has written and illustrated a second book, The Doldrums and the Hemsleys,  and the illustrations in that book are also beautiful.  I especially like the ones in the second book because I love snow and part of the story takes place in a blizzard.

The writing style is humorous and whimsical, which adds another level of entertainment.  The characters have great personalities with details that make them come to life to a point- more like cartoon characters than living people. The settings, of which some are quite eccentric, are brought to life by particulars the author provides.

The Doldrums is a story about friendship, family, and adventure.  It shows how you can have an adventure anywhere, even just in your own backyard.  This may be the one disappointment for the reader.  If reading the book to experience a grand Antarctic adventure, the reader is let down because this never happens. There is a different kind of adventure, so expectations may not be met. Sorry if this is a spoiler.

If you are looking for a book that is whimsical and funny with good characters, check this out.  If you are looking for an Antarctic adventure, look somewhere else.


         

Last Woman Standing

Title: Last Woman Standing

Author: Amy Gentry

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, January 2019

Pages: 312

Genre:  thriller

Obtained: ARC from publisher in exchange for an honest review






Synopsis: Dana Diaz, a stand up comedian, and Amanda Dorn, a computer programmer, meet at a bar and quickly bond over some very serious issues they both have with men.  Amanda thinks they should get revenge.

Thoughts: I loved the setting of this book.  It was fresh and new.  I also thought it was ironic that a book about serious issues was set in the comedy scene.  It almost made it lighter to read even though most of the book was quite disturbing.

I really had trouble feeling for the characters.  I couldn't relate to them and I didn't really care for them.  This took out some of the enjoyment of reading this book.  What made up for this was the author's writing style.  I loved how she started off slow, providing details, and picked up the pace as the story went along and as the suspense started.  I also loved the twists and turns.  The style made me want to come back to see what would happen next.

If you don't mind disturbing topics such as rape, revenge, harassment, and assault, definitely try this one.  If unlikeable characters ruin a story for you, skip it.


                                                                       

 Today I felt like I needed something cold and refreshing and I couldn't find any tea that I wanted iced, so I just had some cucumber water while reading this book.  I like to add cucumbers to water and leave them in there for about four hours or overnight.  The cucumbers give the water a clean taste, and for some reason, the water seems to quench my thirst better and tastes more refreshing.

                                                                    

Rain Reign

Title: Rain Reign

Author: Ann M. Martin

Narrator: Laura Hamilton

Publisher: Brilliance Audio, 2014

Format: 4 compact discs, 4 hours and 9 minutes

Genre: middle grade realistic fiction

Obtained: library




Synopsis: Rose Howard's dog Rain Reign gets lost when Rose's father lets the dog out during a hurricane.  Can Rose find her dog?

Thoughts: This was a wonderful book. There is MUCH more to this story than my basic synopsis. It is about a girl and her love for her dog, but it is also about persistence, courage, stepping out of your comfort zone, acceptance, love, and friendship. The story involves Asperger's syndrome, an absent mother, and an alcoholic father. It is told by Rose who loves homonyms, prime numbers and rules- which are all very interesting.  Rose is a lovable character who is different in many ways, but very easy to relate to. The author does a fantastic job showing how people do things for a reason and how sometimes we just have to take the time to get to know someone to understand.

This was a book that played with my emotions. I listened to this story with my eleven year old son.  He was not upset by any of the book even though some of the scenes were disturbing and emotional.  He understood what was happening in the story but didn't get all of the underlying themes and connections that were going on.  This book would probably be better for 13 year olds and above due to some of the content.

The narrator was terrific.  She told the story at a great pace, spoke very clearly, and was extremely easy to follow.

If you like emotional stories with excellent characters try this one- unless homonyms annoy you.


                                                                 

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Rhubarb Cream Soda

Obtained: purchased

This was a caffeine free herbal tea which was in an ice tea sampler that I purchased.  The ingredients were apple, rose hip shells, mango (mango, sugar), pineapple (pineapple, sugar), hibiscus, red currants, rhubarb, and natural flavouring.  The "leaves" were chunks of fruit and pieces of rose hips.  The scent of the leaves was of fruit. I put my packet of tea into my tea maker and poured 10 ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves.  I let this steep for 5 minutes.  I poured this over ice.  The liquid was a lovely dark pink.  The scent was of fruit, but also there was a background scent that reminded me of play dough.  The taste was a nice sweet and sour combination, but the taste again reminded me of play dough.  I didn't care for this one at all...

Evil Winds

Title: Evil Winds (Tradecraft Phase 2)

Author: Michael Shusko

Publisher: self published, 2018

Genre: military thriller

Obtained: from the author's publicist in exchange for an honest review







Synopsis: Angie Bryant goes to Darfur to do research for a story about the atrocities happening to the people who live there.  With the help of Jason Russo, a medical doctor, she uncovers more than she thought she would.  Will they make it out alive to share their discoveries with the world?

Thoughts:  I had never read a book that took place in this setting and knew very little about this part of the world, so the best part of this story, to me, was learning about Sudan and Chad.  The author did a terrific job showing the reader what it is like in this part of the world.  The plot was good and the writing was organized.  The characters were okay, but I didn't feel like they were real, so that kind of turned me off.  I didn't really care what happened to them, so I didn't get into the story as much as I would have liked to.

If you are interested in reading about other parts of the world and like military thrillers, definitely give this one a try.  If you are all about the characters when it comes to a story, skip this one.





                                                               

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Moringa Mermaid

Obtained: purchased

Moringa Mermaid is a caffeine free herbal tea.  The ingredients are melon pieces (melon, sugar, citric acid), apple, carrots, pineapple (pineapple, sugar), moringa, blackberry leaves, rose petals, and natural watermelon and lemon flavouring.  The leaves were beautiful.  They were a light green and there were orange and off white chunks mixed in.  The colors went perfectly with each other and reminded me of spring.  The leaves had a fruity scent.  I purchased the single serving iced tea packets, so I dumped the contents of one packet into my tea maker, poured 10 ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves and let this steep for 4 minutes.  I poured this over ice.  The liquid was a yellowish brown and the scent was a blend of fruit and grass.  The taste was odd- both fruity and vegetal, but overwhelmingly sweet.  I didn't care for this one.

Lethal

Title: Lethal

Author: Sandra Brown

Narrator: Victor Slezak

Publisher: Hachette Audio, 2011

Format: 11 compact discs, 12.5 hours

Genre: fiction, mystery, thriller

Obtained: borrowed from friend




Synopsis: When Honor Gillette and her four year old daughter find a "sick" man in their yard and he turns out to be the man accused of murdering seven people the previous night, what will happen?

Thoughts:  I liked the author's writing style, especially the way she used dialogue.  Her characters were interesting and I liked that they were all ages and very different from one another.  There was suspense and mystery to the story. What took away from the story was the corny romantic relationship between the two main characters that was just not believable.  I don't think this is a spoiler because it is very obvious what will happen as soon as these characters meet.  That piece really spoiled this book for me.  I also did not love the ending- everything was tied up, but when I finished the book I didn't have that satisfied feeling. 

If you like romance books along with suspense, this might be a book for you.  I am not a romance fan.  Romance books very often seem silly to me unless they are extremely well written.


                                                                

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Organic Japanese Sencha

Obtained: purchased


Today I tried Organic Japanese Sencha from Davids Tea.  This is a steamed green tea with a high caffeine content.  The leaves were a very dark green of all shapes and sizes, with the majority being long and thin.  The scent of the leaves was vegetal.  I put 1 1/2 teaspoons of leaves in my teapot and poured 12 ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves.  I let this steep for 1 minute.  The scent of the pale yellow liquid was almost floral but still had a vegetal quality. The taste was of spinach with a slight floral note to it.  The texture was a bit creamy.  This is a pleasant, refreshing tea.

Wolf Hollow

Title: Wolf Hollow

Author: Lauren Wolk

Narrator: Emily Rankin

Publisher: Listening Library, 2016

Format: 6 compact discs, 7 hours

Genre: young adult fiction

Obtained: library




Synopsis: Someone has thrown a rock causing Annabelle's friend, Ruth, to lose an eye.   Was it Betty Glengarry, the mean and manipulative bully, or Toby, the odd World War I veteran who keeps to himself, but has only shown Annabelle kindness?


Thoughts: My synopsis does not come even close to describing what this story is about because there is so much more to this book, but I don't like knowing too much going into a story.  I think it can take away from the reading experience and I don't want to do that to any potential readers.  This story is about bullying, stereotypes, judging people, friendship, family, looking at the outside of a person and not what's inside, jumping to conclusions, manipulation, psychiatric disorders, death, courage, speaking up, lying, finding your voice, taking responsibility, standing up for what you know is right, truth, kindness and strength.

This book is recommended for ages 9-12, but I have to warn that it is a haunting story with depressing topics.  My 11 year old son and I listened to this book for the Massachusetts Book Awards project.  It was in the 5th grade section and listed as a level X F&P and 800 Lexile.  My son is immature for his age, so this was not really a good match for him.  He followed the story and felt the ending was sad, but didn't really get all that the author was trying to convey.  I wonder if a mature 5th grader would even "get" it all.  I also believe that for those preteens that "get" it, the book could be disturbing to them.  I encourage parents to read this wonderful book to see if it would be suitable for the child they would be giving it to.  Personally, I think it is more appropriate for middle school and up.

As an adult, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  I usually don't like books without a happy ending, but I was okay with this one.  I loved the author's writing style and her characters.  The story was told at an excellent pace and was balanced with action, thoughts, and descriptions.  The narrator was excellent and a perfect fit to read this story.  I felt like I knew the characters and that the setting was real.  The story was unique and interesting.  It is very hard to write more without talking about what happens in the book, so I will stop there.

I highly recommend this book to adults.  I also recommend it for mature kids ages 12 and up, but I really encourage the adult to read it before giving it to a child to make sure it is appropriate for that particular kid.






                                                   

Company: Plum Deluxe

Tea: Comfort Blend Black Tea

Obtained: sample with tea of the month club delivery


I tried Comfort Blend Black Tea from Plum Deluxe today.  The ingredients were black tea, cinnamon chips, orange peel, ginger, clove, and orange extract.  This tea is also available without the caffeine.  The black tea leaves were all shapes and sizes and were mixed with off-white and brown chunks.  The leaves had the scent of oranges and cinnamon.  I put the teaspoon of leaves in my tea ball and poured 12 ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves.  I let this steep for 3 minutes.  The liquid was a yellowish brown and had a mild scent of oranges and cinnamon.  The taste was a wonderful blend of oranges and spice.  It is sometimes hard for me to find an orange spice blend that I really like- but this one is excellent.  It is a tad lighter on the orange and a bit heavier with the spice than other orange spice teas I've purchased .  I found it refreshing, revitalizing and delicious.  It gave me a calm, yet awake feeling.

The Haunting of Hill House

Title: The Haunting of Hill House

Author: Shirley Jackson

Narrator: Bernadette Dunne

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, 2010 (story originally published in 1959)

Format: 6 compact discs, 7 hours and 27 minutes

Genre: fiction, horror

Obtained: library



Synopsis: Dr. Montague invites two women that have had supernatural experiences to be his guests for the summer at a house that is said to be haunted.  Also joining them is the heir to the house.  The doctor's goal is to find scientific evidence of the supernatural.

Thoughts: I loved the author's writing style, especially how she described Hill House, and how she conveyed mood and atmosphere.  The way she introduced the remarkable characters before they even got to the house, then the way she slowly built tension and suspense when they arrived, and finally how she wrote the ending was all superb.  Many times I have not been truly satisfied with the ending to a horror story, but I was with this one.

The narrator did an excellent job telling this story.  Her reading was easy to follow and held my attention throughout the book.  I was never lost or confused.

I don't want to write much more about the story itself because it would spoil it. I recommend this book to anyone that loves a good writer and psychological horror stories with no blood and gore. 


                                                                     

Company: Plum Deluxe 

Tea: Vanilla Creme Herbal Tea

Obtained: sample with tea of the month club




Today I tried the Vanilla Creme Herbal Tea from Plum Deluxe.  I received this one a couple of months ago with my tea of the month club package.  I've been putting it off because vanilla and honeybush are not my favorites, and the ingredients of this tea are honeybush tea, calendula, and vanilla extract.  Honeybush is too sweet for me and I don't usually like vanilla unless it is blended with another flavor.

The tiny brown and orange leaves were mixed with yellow flower petals.  The scent of the leaves was sweet vanilla.  I put 1 1/2 teaspoons of leaves in my teapot and poured 12 ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves.  I let this steep for 3 minutes.  The dark orange liquid had a sweet vanilla scent.  The taste was also a very sweet vanilla.  For those that like vanilla and sweet tea, I'm sure this would make a wonderful dessert tea, especially along with a creamy dessert.

Title: Stories of Elders: What the Greatest Generation Knows About Technology that You Don't

Author: Veronica Kirin

Publisher: Identity Publications, 2018

Pages: 309

Genre: nonfiction

Obtained: from publisher in exchange for an honest review





Synopsis: The author traveled across the United States, interviewing people born before 1945, focusing on technology and how it has changed our way of life.

Thoughts: For a nonfiction book, this was an easy, quick read.  The author is an organized writer who writes at a reading level appropriate for teens and up.  She divides her chapters into subjects and uses the material she gathered through her interviews in somewhat of a discussion format, using many quotes from interesting people that draws the reader in.

The book was thought provoking, and personally, really made me look at how much has changed over the last 100 years.  I am one of the 20% of Americans who do not have a smart phone, and it got me wondering how far I'd be behind in another 10 years if I don't get one.  I enjoy a great feeling of security carrying around my cell phone, but if I had a smart phone, I, like most, would be constantly checking my emails, texts, and looking up information instead of paying attention to what is going on around me.  And is it becoming NECESSARY to have one?  Maybe.  This question was not discussed in the book, but this is where my thoughts led me after reading this book.

The book looks at how things have changed over about the last 100 years in the areas of communication, war, politics, rights, transportation, energy, amenities, work, medicine, relationships, food, money, poverty, safety, community, generational proximity, family, child development, religion, and integrity.  It covers a wide range of topics and I think, in a small amount of space. The author chose well what she put in and left out so that she wrote enough without the book becoming monotonous.  Although the book covers things most of us know, I did learn some new things, for example, how the credit card developed into what we use today- something I have never thought about.

This would make an excellent book club book, especially for intergenerational clubs.  It would give the opportunity to share some personal experiences and really get to know each other.  If you are looking for a nonfiction book, I highly recommend this one to young adults and up.




                                                                  

Company: Davids Tea             

Tea: North African Mint

Obtained: free sample with order


Today I sampled North African Mint tea from Davids Tea.  The ingredients were green tea, ginger, peppermint, cardamom, licorice root, fennel, clove, and black pepper.  This tea has a low caffeine content and the spices in it are supposed to be good for digestion.  The leaves were all shapes, sizes, and colors, and so were the seeds that were mixed in.  The scent of the leaves was of peppermint.  I poured 16 ounces of water that had been boiled over 2 1/2 teaspoons of leaves and let this sit for 3 minutes.  The liquid was a dark yellow with a very slight scent of mint.  When taking a sip, the peppermint taste was there, but the spices were also present, and the aftertaste was this peppery / minty experience- you could feel as well as taste it.  The result was a delicious blend.  This was a calming tea that helped to settle my stomach.  After reading the ingredients I was a little doubtful that these herbs and spices would complement each other, but I love how they tasted together!

All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

Title: All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook

Author: Leslie Connor

Narrators: Michael Crouch and Kathleen McInerney

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, 2016

Format: 8 compact discs, 9 1/2 hours

Genre: middle school fiction

Obtained: library



Synopsis: Perry T. Cook has spent his life growing up in the Blue River Co-Ed Correctional Facility.  Although a nontraditional upbringing, Perry has had a great life with a "family" that loves him.  When the new district attorney finds out about the arrangement of letting Perry's incarcerated mother raise him in jail, he acts swiftly to have Perry removed and put into a foster home.  Will Perry be reunited with his mother?

Thoughts: I just loved this book!  My eleven year old son and I listened to this book in the car as we drove to places we needed to be.  It is one of the books nominated for the Massachusetts Children's Book Award sponsored by Salem State University.  If my son reads, has read to him, or listens to at least 5 books on this list, he can vote for the winner in March.  Logan, my eleven year old son, liked this book too, but it was a bit above his comprehension level.  As we talked about the book, I noticed he sometimes didn't quite understand parts of it, but he got enough out of it to enjoy the story.  This book is recommended for grades 5 through 8, but I think this is a great book for the whole family.  I am always looking for audiobooks for family trips and this is a fantastic one, especially if you have older kids.

The reader gets to know the characters in this story on a personal level and I felt like they were real people.  The complex characters was the biggest, of the many strengths of this book.  The story was captivating and unique.  The setting was new and interesting, especially for a middle school book.  I felt like I was right there with the characters.  I could picture the story happening in my head.  The narrators were terrific and read at just the right pace and with emotion, and made the story very easy to follow.

The author gently discusses some heavy topics including incarcerated parents and foster homes.  She focuses on hope and perserverence when things aren't looking too good, and shows that it is okay to get support when you need it.  She uses Big Ed to give excellent advice on how to handle tough times.  The author conveys what community is and talks about laws and trials on a level kids can understand.  She expresses that everything isn't black and white nor good or bad, but there is always something in the middle.  Most importantly, she shows that there are many different types of families and just how important it is to have one.

I highly recommend this book!


                                                                     

Company: Plum Deluxe

Tea: Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dessert Tea

Obtained: sample with tea of the month club


Vanilla Sugar Cookie Dessert Tea from Plum Deluxe is caffeine free.  The ingredients are green rooibus, cinnamon chips, blackberry leaf, ginger root, fennel seeds, and vanilla essences.  The small leaves in my sample package were all shades of browns and creams and were mixed with chunks and seeds of similar colors.  The leaves smelled like an oatmeal cookie fresh out of the oven.  I poured a cup of water that had been boiled over a teaspoon of leaves and let this sit for four minutes.  The liquid was a yellowish or orange brown, depending on how the light hit it.  The scent was of an oatmeal cookie, but not as strong of a scent as the leaves.  The taste was a combination of sweet and spice.  At first the taste was of a snicker doodle- a very sweet cinnamon taste, but after swallowing the liquid there was a peppery taste, which I believe came from the combination of fennel seeds and ginger.  This is not a tea I would normally choose to drink.  I usually don't like sweet tea or vanilla, but the peppery finish just added something extra here that made this one enjoyable.  This was a wonderful afternoon treat!

The Emissary

Title: The Emissary (The One Great Year Series #1)

Author: Tamara Veitch & Rene DeFazio

Publisher: Waterside Press, 2018

Genre: fantasy

Pages: 201

Obtained: advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review




Synopsis: Marcus and Theron have been chosen to be eternal Emissaries.  They make the commitment to protect the secrets of their civilization and attempt to lead humankind to enlightenment through numerous reincarnations.  They are separated soon after they are bound to this obligation. Will they be reunited?

Thoughts: This is a hard book to review because when I was finished with it, I felt like I had just finished the introduction to a story, not a whole book.  There were some engrossing parts, and some where I found my mind wandering.  The characters were interesting.  The reader did not get to know them as much as I would have liked, but they were developed.  The authors did a great job describing the settings and beings of the worlds they created. 

I would say don't read this unless you plan to read the whole One Great Year Series because it was kind of disappointing where this book left off.  It felt like the main story was just about to begin.  My feeling was not that I couldn't wait to read the next piece of the story.  It was like I was ready to start the actual story.  It reminded me of when Stephen King's The Green Mile was released in six parts, except that I was prepared for that so I knew what to expect, which made it was okay.  This was not.


                                                                     

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Budda's Blend

Obtained: purchased



The leaves of Budda's Blend from Davids Tea have the scent of peaches.  The blend is made up of long black leaves with some jasmine pearls and lighter leaves mixed in.  The ingredients listed are white tea, green tea, jasmine pearls, white hibiscus blossoms, and natural and artificial flavouring. 

I put about two and a half teaspoons of leaves into my tea maker and poured sixteen ounces of water that had been boiled, and then cooled slightly, over the leaves.  I let this steep for one minute.  The liquid was yellow and had a light scent of jasmine and fruit.  The taste was a floral and fruit blend.  This is a light, delicate tea- something I would drink to relax.  The tea does have a medium caffeine content, so I don't recommend drinking it before bed.  This is a great one to try if you like jasmine and peaches.

The Last Mile

Title: The Last Mile (Memory Man #2)

Author: David Baldacci

Narrator: Kyf Brewer & Orlagh Cassidy

Publisher: Hachette Audio, 2016

Format: 10 compact discs, approximately 12 hours

Genre: mystery, thriller

Obtained: borrowed from friend




Synopsis: Melvin Mars was convicted of killing his parents and his execution is hours away.  At the last minute, Mars' execution is put on hold because someone else has confessed to the murder.  Can Amos Decker find out the truth?  Did Mars kill his parents, or was it someone else?

Thoughts: I hate it when a series of books has a change in the narrator.  It really makes it hard to reconnect with the main character.  It just doesn't seem like it is the same person as in the previous book because of the change in voice, but also in the way the narrator portrays the character.  This happens with the other characters as well.  I think this is the first book I listened to that I was glad of the change.  I had no problems with the narrator of the first book in The Memory Man series, but in this second audio book, Kyf Brewer presented the main character, Amos Decker, as lighter (not as serious), which really made me like Decker more.  It did take awhile to get used to the new voice and slight personality change, but I did fairly quickly.

I enjoyed this story more than the first Amos Decker book, Memory Man.  It had many of the same characters, but added Melvin Mars who was likeable and was an interesting "friend" for Decker. The writing was good, although some parts were just not believable, and the story moved along at a good pace.  It was entertaining, drew me in, and held me there until the end because there was so much going on. 

I would recommend reading these books in order.  The first book has Amos Decker's history in it which is very important to this second story.  The reader would not be lost, but would understand the "whys" better.


                                                                     

Company: Plum Deluxe

Tea: Apple Cinnamon Warmth Black Tea

Obtained: sample with tea of the month club order


Today I tried Apple Cinnamon Warmth Black Tea from Plum Deluxe.  This is a black tea, so it does contain caffeine.  The ingredients are black tea, cinnamon chips, apple pieces, orange blossoms, and apple / cinnamon essences.  The tea looked like a combination of black tea leaves of all shapes and sizes and some chunks of apple.  It had a deep, warm scent of cinnamon and apples.  I poured 8 ounces of water over about a teaspoon of the tea and let this steep for 3 minutes.  The orange- brown liquid had the same scent as the leaves.  The taste was of a rich apple cake with cinnamon.  This would make a wonderful replacement for dessert, or a treat when in need of something warm and comforting.  It would also go great with scones, muffins, or coffee cake.

Our Frail Disordered Lives

Title: Our Frail Disordered Lives

Author: Mary M. Schmidt

Publisher: self published, 2018

Genre: humor, horror

Pages: 195

Obtained: from the author in exchange for an honest review






Synopsis: What happens when a disgruntled demon wants to show his boss (the devil) what he's made of?

Thoughts: First of all, I thought this was going to be a horror book, but I would classify it as humor.  There were demons and an exorcism, but the story was presented in a comical way.  The story was told from the point of view of the demon that needed to be exorcised, which, to me, is really what made this story unique.  The writing was good, the story original and fresh, and the characters interesting.  I was entertained, especially at the beginning, and I am not a big fan of the humor genre. 

The only thing that bothered me was that there was just something about the book that was lacking.  It is hard to pinpoint,  but I believe it was the cohesion.  The story flowed, made sense, and wasn't confusing, but the way all the characters came together didn't work 100%.  It wasn't believable because it was just too easy- not complicated enough.

If you are looking for something entertaining, quick, and different to read, this is one to try.  If you are looking for a creepy horror story, look someplace else.


                                                                       

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Organic Cinnamon Rooibos Chai

Obtained: purchased

Organic Cinnamon Rooibos Chai is a caffeine free chai.  The ingredients are rooibos, apple, cinnamon, and cinnamon flavouring.  This tea is made up of tiny orange and brown leaves with a few brown chunks of, I am assuming, dried apple.  The scent of the leaves is cinnamon.  I put one heaping teaspoon of leaves in my tea ball and poured 12 ounces of water over it.  I let this steep for 4 minutes.  The liquid was an orange brown with a cinnamon scent.  The taste was mostly of cinnamon, but the apple and rooibos gave the tea a slight sweetness.  If I wanted a cup of chai, I wouldn't pick this, but if I were looking for some cinnamon tea, I'd want this one.  This tea did not have the spiciness I look for in chai, but it is a delicious cinnamon tea- loved it!

Massachusetts Children's Book Award Program

My eleven year old son, Logan, is participating in the Massachusetts Children's Book Award Program.  The goal of this program, founded in 1975, and sponsored by Salem State University, is to encourage children to read.  The students were given a list of 25 books.  If they read at least five of the books on the list, they can vote for their favorite one in March.  They can read the book themselves, have someone read it to them, or listen to the audio book.  They do not have to do anything else, but are encouraged to share book reviews with one another.

My son's school kicked off this project with a "Book Tasting".  They purchased several new copies of each title on the list and laid them out on the cafeteria tables, which were covered with red and white checkered tablecloths- just like a picnic.  The students were supposed to read the book description on the back cover and look at the front cover, and then decide if it was something they might like to read.  What a great activity, right?  Not to my son who HATES anything to do with reading.  It was the most miserable day ever for him!

I looked at his list and my fifth grader had one book, just one, marked that he might like to read.  He LOVES to run, and the book, Ghost by Jason Reynolds,  had a picture of a boy running on the front cover.  The description on the back starts out with one word- Running.  I could see why this appealed to him.  He probably didn't read any further.  Logan struggles with reading and has just reached a fifth grade reading level (an R in Fountas and Pinnell).  Ghost is a Level Z.  I got the audio book at the library to try.  I was told by Logan's teachers that his comprehension level is way above his reading level and he likes being read to, just not reading books himself.

We decided we would start to listen to it in the car, and if he didn't like it, we'd try a different one.  Well, he loved it!  So did I!  AND my husband and 16 year old son listened to some of it and they were laughing and enjoying it too.  I have to say it is one of the BEST books I've ever read.  And the narrator- maybe THE best I've ever heard.  It is a great story with wonderful characters.  It has meaningful underlying themes with life lessons that are pertinent to older kids.  It is about serious stuff, but it's told in a light, humorous way.  Logan did not like the ending, and I can't say why because it would spoil the whole book for those who have not read it, but I thought it was perfect.  Logan understood the story, but not all the underlying themes, and I know that's why he didn't like the ending.  We talked about them, but he still wanted more information at the end.  Since Logan's reading level is not exactly where it is supposed to be, I think most fifth grade students and up would grasp more.  I didn't tell Logan yet, but Ghost is the first book in a "Track" series.  There are three more books, each about a different character from Ghost.  I want him to finish his five from the list before we go astray, but I am hoping he'll find out what he wanted to know from reading the other books in the series.

                                                               

The next book on the list that Logan picked to read was The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey.  He read this one on his own.  It had lots of pictures and not a lot of writing.  It was a Level P, so below his reading level.  He read it in two sittings, which is amazing for Logan!  He said it was 
"okay".  After seeing him read it so quickly, I, of course, had to read it too.  I could see it being entertaining and funny to 4th graders and up (especially boys), and great for kids like Logan who get overwhelmed by a page full of words.  This is also a series.



                                                              

We are now listening to All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook by Leslie Connor, another advanced book, which we are both really enjoying.  I'll do a review on this when we've finished it.  If you have a child in grades 4 to 6, I would definitely check out this reading list, no matter where you live.  These are some really good books and I believe this program is accomplishing its mission.


                                                               

Death and Taxes

Title: Death and Taxes (first book in a series)

Author: Mark Zaslove

Publisher: Aperient Press, 2018

Pages: 219

Genre: mystery / crime, humor

Obtained: from author's publicity manager in exchange for an honest review






Synopsis: When Mark Douglas' friend and supervisor, Lila, is brutally murdered, he is determined to find out why and catch the bad guys.

Thoughts: This book begins with an action packed, humorous raid to collect back taxes, and quickly introduces the good guys.  The main character, Mark, was a Marine and is now an IRS agent.  There are some quirky, colorful characters in this book.  In a way, in the beginning, this book reminded me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, but with a male protagonist.  The story line itself was simple and easy to follow. The focus of the writer seemed to be the humor, but even more so than in Evanvich's writing.

I have never liked comedy shows and there are many comedy movies that I just can't get into.  I find about the first five minutes funny, and then, I just lose interest with line after line of jokes that are supposed to make me laugh.  They're just not funny to me after those first few.  The same happens when I read comical books.  I enjoy a book more when there is a really good story and all throughout the book, every once in awhile, there is something funny unexpectedly thrown in.  When there is just line after line of humor, I lose interest.  Unfortunately that is what happened with this book and it was hard for me to get through.  Now I know MANY people just love this type of humor, and you'll probably love this book, especaiily if you like unconventional characters.  So, if you're looking for a good old fashioned mystery or crime novel, this is not what you are looking for, but, if you are looking for a comical book that doesn't let up on the funny lines, this is for you.  This book is definitely for adults.


                                                                    

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Toasted Walnut

Obtained: free sample with order


Today I tried Toasted Walnut tea from Davids Tea, which is a green tea that has a low caffeine content.  The ingredients were sencha green tea, nut brittle (sugar, hazelnut), pineapple (pineapple, sugar), coconut (coconut, coconut fat, sugar), walnuts, almonds, and natural and artficial flavouring.  Some of the leaves were long and thin, while others were small, short pieces.  There was quite a large piece of walnut in my sample, along with chunks that looked like dried, sugar coated pineapple.  The scent of the leaves was of toasted coconut, sweet nuts, and a hint of fruit.  I put my sample packet in my tea steeper and poured 16 ounces of water that had been boiled over the leaves.  I let this sit for 3 minutes.  The liquid was a cloudy yellow with a scent of toasted coconut and nuts.  The taste was a nice combination of coconut, nuts, and fruit and had a slight sweetness to it.  This was a warming tea that gave me a cozy feeling.  This would be a great tea for a relaxing, snowy day.  I think it would go great with any book. 

Memory Man

Title: Memory Man

Author: David Baldacci

Narrator: Ron McLarity with Orlash Cassidy

Publisher: Hachette Audio, 2015

Format: 11 compact discs, 13.5 hours

Genre: mystery, crime fiction

Obtained: borrowed from friend




Synopsis: Amos Decker, a police detective, arrives home to find his family brutally murdered.  Over a year later a man turns himself in to the police, confessing that he was the one who murdered Decker's family. Decker feels the need to meet this man and ends up getting himself involved in helping the police with another high profile investigation.  Can Decker use his gifts to solve both of these crimes?

Thoughts: I listened to this book while doing mundane chores and driving.  It kept me entertained and I enjoyed it.  The story itself was not believable, and there was too much repetition at times, but it did hold my interest.  There was a lot going on throughout the book which is a big plus to me.  The author also gave details throughout the book which helped me to picture the story in my mind, along with the characters.

Although the main character was not exciting or charismatic, I liked that he was different- overweight, homeless, and couldn't forget anything due to a brain injury that occurred playing football.  To be honest, it was hard to connect to him at first, but by the end I sort of liked him.  The narrator did help to bring him to life.  The other characters were interesting and I was pleased that the author gave the reader some of their stories, but I wanted to know more.  This is the first in a series though, so maybe the author will share more about these characters in future books.  I have actually started the second book, which I am, so far, enjoying even more than the first one.

I would definitely recommend this book to mystery / crime fiction lovers looking for a new series.  I do have to say that some of the crimes are quite gruesome, so if this really bothers you, skip this one.


                                                                    

Company: Davids Tea

Tea: Organic Super Ginger

Obtained: purchased


Today I tried a caffeine free rooibos tisane- Organic Super Ginger from Davida Tea.  The ingredients were ginger, green rooibos, black pepper, white pepper, pink peppercorn, and natural flavouring.  The small, brown, thin leaves were combined with chunks of ginger and pink peppercorns.  The scent of the dry tea was of ginger.  I poured about a cup of water that had been boiled over approximately a teaspoon of tea and let this steep for five minutes.  The liquid was yellowish brown and had a ginger scent to it.  The taste was of ginger and spice, which balanced each other out resulting in a delicious tea.  I could not taste the rooibos at all.  This tea left a soothing tingly feeling in my throat and cleared my sinuses.  This is a warming , comforting tea, that would definitely be good when fighting off a cold or the flu.