Waking Lazarus

                                                           
Title: Waking Lazarus

Author: D. J. Williams

Publisher: Forgotten Stories, LLC, 2016

Pages: 308

Genre: thriller, mystery

Obtained: from author in exchange for an honest review





Summary: Jake Harris has been battling alcoholism, attempting to change his wife's mind about getting a divorce, and hasn't seen his daughter in a very long time.  He does not remember his mother, and the relationship he has with his father is not a good one.  He is unemployed and out of money.  Finally, his life is about to turn around, or so he thinks.  He has been hired to ghostwrite a memoir for an old family friend.  Jake's life does take a dramatic turn after he agrees to ghostwrite the memoir, but not in the way he has imagined.

Thoughts:  This book starts with a prologue that does not discuss the protagonist of the story and is set in Mexico.  The writing is very dramatic and intense.  It sets a tone that I was not sure I was going to like.  I started the first chapter- major writing style and tone change.  The protagonist is introduced and the setting is now California.  I started liking this a bit more.  Then the writer starts to feed the reader a little information at a time.  Some of this information starts to tie in with other information and some is still questionable.  Then I was hooked. I wanted to know how the past and present were connected. As the story starts to unfold the twists and turns begin.  And the best part- the story was not predictable!  I did not always know what was going to happen!
      Waking Lazarus ended up being a face-paced, page turner that kept me guessing.  The settings were described well and the characters were developed.  The story did jump to and from the perspectives of different characters, but was well organized, so it was not confusing.  I was guessing at times what was really happening, but it is clear this was the author's intention, and added to the mystery and suspense.  This author has a talent for being able to set a mood.  As I was reading, it felt like a movie.  The only problem I had with this book was that I had to stop and figure out some of the abbreviations which I didn't want to take the time to do.  I realize that's how the characters in the book would talk and think, so this made the story more believable, but I was reading a suspenseful thriller!  Also, be aware, this is not a cozy mystery.  There is lots of bloodshed.
     This book is the second in The Guardian trilogy.  Usually I do not like reading a series out of order, but it felt okay not reading The Disillusioned first.  The way Waking Lazarus ended, however, I do feel that I will have to read the third in the series.  The story had an ending, but there was clearly more to come.
     There is a soundtrack by Jene Nicole Johnson that goes along with this book.  This really caught my attention.  You can hear some clips from the soundtrack here.  I thought this was so cool!  I listened to a couple of the clips.  Wonderful music!  Each song goes with specific chapters in the book.  As I mentioned, there were many different tones set expertly throughout the book by the author.  Listening to the music, I didn't always get the same feel as I had when reading the book, but I just loved this idea!  Just think about when it is hard to get into a book how much a well written soundtrack could help.
     D. J. Williams has agreed to do an interview with me, so please check back for more.  If you "follow" my blog by email, you will get new posts in you mailbox!


                                                                    

Company: Tea Forte

Tea: Blood Orange

Obtained: gift









     "Blood Orange" was the second tea that I sampled from the "Noir Single Steeps Sampler" from Tea Forte.  The sampler consisted of 15 single steeps that came in a pretty box.  There were five different flavors, three of each flavor.  The single steep package was very good quality and easy to open.  I would not hesitate to carry this in my bag or purse.  It is a very sturdy envelope.
     I emptied the envelope of tea into my teapot. The leaves were long and black with pieces of light brown leaves and orange peel mixed in.  The sweet orange scent was strong.  I poured 12 ounces of water over the leaves.  (I love that the tea is measured for 12 ounces of water, not eight.  I always feel like 8 ounces just isn't enough.)  I let this steep for three minutes.  The liquid was a beautiful orange brown color.  The scent of the liquid was faint orange and I could smell the tea leaves as well.  The taste of the tea was of tart oranges with a black tea taste in the background.  The finish was somewhat bitter and this taste lingered for some time.
     I was a bit disappointed with this tea.  I think when I smelled the sweet orange of the tea leaves, I was looking forward to this sweetness, even though I am not usually one for sweet teas.  I just wanted more sweetness to this tea without adding another flavor.  Also, I didn't really care for the bitter aftertaste.  I will drink my other two single steeps, but not when I am in the mood for something sweet.  This is more of a crisp, wake me up sort of tea.
   
   

   

Staking Her Claim

Title: Staking Her Claim: Women Homesteading the West

Author: Marcia Meredith Hensley

Publisher: High Plains Press, 2008

Pages: 303

Genre: nonfiction, American history, anthology

Obtained: gift

Summary: In the early 1900's, many single women became homesteaders in the western United States by taking advantage of the Homestead Act.  Here, some of these women's stories are told, mostly in their own words, through letters, articles, and historical records and documents.

Thoughts:  My mother and father-in-law brought this book back to me after a trip across the United States.  When I read the title and description on the back cover, my first thought was that I had never even thought about a woman homesteading on her own during this time period.  Everything I ever read about or watched about this topic involved families or men moving out west to claim land and prove up.  What a wonderful topic to research and write about!
     This book ended up being a wealth of information.  The topic was exceptionally well researched, and I really liked that the author put parts of the original letters and articles written by these women in the book.  I also liked that she used so many different sources and included pictures.  Also, some of the writing included was done while the women were homesteading and some was done after the fact.  So, the reader gets some of these women's perspectives during and some after their experiences.  It felt like no stone was unturned.  The book was very well organized, so I did not feel like it was jumping all around.  It had very good flow.
     In the beginning of the book, the author does an excellent job at explaining the similarities and differences she found among the women that she researched.  Personally, I thought some parts of the first few chapters were repetitive and some of it could have been edited out.  Also, the letters written by these women when they were homesteading, for me, got monotonous to read.  There was a lot of information about the weather, daily chores, the mail, people's health, and the wildlife.  I realize how important all these topics were and loved that the actual letters were there to read, but I tried to read this book like a novel, which was a mistake.  My favorite part of the anthology were the memoirs toward the end.  The stories and memoirs had been written for an audience, so for leisure reading, were much more enjoyable.
     This is an excellent book if you are researching this topic or are very interested in it.  If the interest is not huge, the book would be more enjoyable to read a chapter here and there, rather than all at once.  Also, the book is set up so that you can jump around and pick the woman that you want to read about.  This book shows how strong and capable women can be, so may be an inspiration to women.


                                                                   

                                                               

Company: French Creek Tea Company

Tea: Annie's Blend

Obtained: gift









     Over the summer my mother and father in-law drove across the United States.  One of their stops was  Annie's Emporium, a unique store selling local items including those of crafters and artists.  The store also launched their own teas under the name French Creek Tea Company.  So, I was lucky enough to get as a gift a bag of "Annie's Blend", a blend of black teas flavored with blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla.  This blend was named after Anna Parks, a 30 year old widow who, around 1894, established "The Palace" in the house that is now Annie's Emporium, although it was then located in Keystone, South Dakota. "The Palace" was a place men, mostly from the "Holy Terror Mine" would pay the madame (Annie) for dinner, drinking, dancing and the companionship of women.  Between 1903 and 1910 Annie sold the house and the new owner moved it to the place it is now located.
     The resealable bag the tea came in was high quality and I loved that it had brewing instructions, ingredients, and an expiration date right on the bag.  As can be seen in the picture above, the package looked sophisticated. The medium black tea leaves had lighter colored leaves mixed in. The scent was of berries with a hint of vanilla in the background.
     I put 3 teaspoons of leaves into my teapot and added 16 ounces of water that had been boiled.  I let this brew for 4 minutes.  The amber liquid smelled of a mix of sweet vanilla and berries.  The taste was a blend of berries and black tea with a very faint sweet vanilla mixed in.  There was no sourness to the tea like in some berry flavored teas.  I loved this tea hot and it was even better iced!
     Unfortunately, this tea is only served in South Dakota (click here for a list of places serving this tea) and available for retail sale at Annie's Emporium. So, if you are in the Black Hills of South Dakota or know someone traveling there, keep Annie's Emporium in mind.  I would love to try some of their other blends!

Precious and Grace

Title: Precious and Grace

Author: Alexander McCall Smith

Narrator: Lisette Lecat

Publisher: Recorded Books, 2016

Format: 8 discs, 9.75 hours

Genre: philosophical fiction, mystery

Obtained: library



Summary:  Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi have a new case.  Susan Peters left Botswana as a young child, moving to Canada with her parents.  She has returned and has hired the Number One Ladies Detective Agency to find the house she lived in as a child and the woman who looked after her.  During the course of the investigation Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi both feel that something just isn't right.  What is actually happening here?

Thoughts:  This is the seventeenth book in this series and I am still loving these stories.  Although they seem to be more and more philosophical and less of mystery solving, they are still just as enjoyable to me.  The author, as usual, uses humor, clever anecdotes, and the daily lives of lovable characters to teach life and moral lessons.
     The author's writing style is light and clear.  His writing takes you right into the setting and you feel like you know these characters.  The main plot and side stories are very simple, but he uses these to look at deeper issues in a light and humorous way.  One of the main themes of this book is forgiveness, and I found this aspect of the book enlightening.
     The narrator was excellent.  She spoke in a slow, clear voice.  You could tell which character was speaking just by her voice.  She definitely helped to bring this story to life.  Her voice added to the feeling that you were in South Africa in a slow paced culture.  The tracks were short, so it was easy to find my place on the CD if I lost it.
     This is the perfect book to read or listen to while you drink a cup of red bush tea and ponder life.



                                                               

Company: Art of Tea

Tea: Rooibos

Obtained: gift









     I received a pouch of organic rooibos tea for Christmas.  Rooibus tea, or bush tea, as it is also known, is grown in South Africa. It is a caffeine free herbal tea.  I have been enjoying a huge tin of rooibos tea from the Grace Tea Company all through 2016, but my tin is almost empty.  So, I was very happy to receive this pouch from Art of Tea.   The tea was packaged in a brown resealable bag that was very easy to open.  Although not fancy or colorful, the foil-lined bag does an excellent job of keeping the tea fresh.
     The tea leaves were small reds, oranges, and browns, reminding me of the leaves on the ground in the fall in New England.  Since the leaves of rooibos tea are so small, I recommend using an extra fine tea infuser.   The scent was of sweet fresh hay.  I put 2 tablespoons of leaves in my teapot and added 16 ounces of water.  I let this brew for 5 minutes.  The liquid was a beautiful red color and the scent was earthy, yet slightly sweet.  The taste was earthy with a nutty after taste.  There was a sweetness to the tea both with the original sip all the way to the lingering after taste.
     This was a refreshing cup of tea that I enjoyed very much, but I have to admit that I like the rooibos tea from Grace Tea Company more.  The rooibos tea from Art of Tea has more of an after taste and seems much sweeter.  The one from Grace is more rounded and nutty.  The quality and freshness of both are equal, but the taste is definitely different.  We all have different preferences, so I hope this helps in deciding where to purchase your rooibos tea.
   

Share-a-Tea Reading Challenge

     Wow!  There could not be a more perfect challenge for me!  I have joined this wonderful challenge which encompasses why I started this blog- to slow down and think about what I am reading and drinking and to share with others!  This is a challenge about quality, not quantity.  It is not about how many books you read.   This challenge is open to everyone.  If you'd like to find out more about this challenge or like to join, please click here.  I will list the books with links to the reviews I do on them here.

The Missing Kennedy

Title: The Missing Kennedy    

Author: Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff

Publisher: Bancroft Press, 2016

Pages: 215

Genre: nonfiction, memoir

Obtained: received copy from publisher in exchange for an honest review

Summary: This is the story of two families effected by disabilities- the author's family and the Kennedys. The author herself was afflicted with dizziness and episodes of blindness (misdiagnosed as epilepsy) at one point and had relatives who suffered from mental illness.  Rosemary Kennedy had what is now thought to have been a learning disability.  She also had emotional outbursts, which at the time was thought to be a mental illness.  She had a lobotomy to help with these issues, but it just resulted in more problems.  Rosemary Kennedy's caretaker for many years was the author's aunt, Sister Paulus. The author weaves these separate stories together to demonstrate that we all have family secrets and to show just how important compassion and empathy is to us all. 

Thoughts:  This book is not just a biography of Rosemary Kennedy which I believe most people would assume by the title The Missing Kennedy and the beautiful picture of Rosemary Kennedy on the cover.  Underneath this title, in very small print, are the words "and the Secret Bonds of Four Women".  Even that seems to be misleading.  To me, this book was about disabilities and how they affected two families- the author's family and the Kennedy's.  Although a big part of the book was the story of Rosemary Kennedy, it was just a part.  Another equally big part was the story of Sister Paulus, Rosemary's caretaker for many years.  Then there were the stories of members of Rosemary's family and members of the author's family- all interesting stories.  The cover just did not seem to grasp what was inside.
    This was a very open and honest book.  It was not a book about gossip and blame.  The author wrote this book after doing research and interviews, and obtaining information from her aunt's personal papers.  She also incorporated her memories into the book adding an intimate feel which I believe is what made this book really good.  
     I read this book in three sittings, but could have done it in one.  It was an easy read- not boring at all.  There were many people discussed in the stories and it could get a little confusing who was who, but there were family trees in the back that I referred to.  Although the author sometimes gives opinions, they were ones I wanted to hear and the author makes it clear they are her thoughts, not facts.  The author's writing was easy to follow.  She did not ramble, but it was as if she was sitting there telling the reader the story rather than writing it.  She did not dramatize anything, just stated how things were.  The book was written in a positive way, pointing out the good that was there even when there was tragedy and sadness.  There were also many pictures included which really added to the experience of reading this book.  Also, in the back of the book are listed the programs the Kennedy family created and the accomplishments John and Ted Kennedy achieved through their political careers  that helped (and are still helping) people with disabilities.
     If you are looking for an in depth biography about Rosemary Kennedy, I don't think you'd be very pleased with this book.  It gives a picture of what life was like for Rosemary after her lobotomy and a brief glimpse of what her life was like before the operation- that is all.  If you are interested in the Kennedy family or just want to read a good, honest nonfiction story about people and families, you will probably enjoy this book as much as I did.  
         

                                                                     

Company: Tea Forte

Tea: Chocolate Rose

Obtained: gift








     I received the Noir Single Steeps Sampler as a Christmas gift.  The samples came in a beautiful box and contained three packages of five different teas.  Each package is premeasured for twelve ounces of water- just enough for a cup of tea.  The packages are easy to open without scissors and would be great for those who bring loose leaf tea with them anywhere.
     The first tea I tried was the Chocolate Rose, a black tea. The leaves were long and dark brown.  There were small light brown leaves mixed in along with thin bark-like pieces.  The scent of the leaves was of sweet chocolate with a hint of rose.  I added twelve ounces of water that had been boiled to the leaves and let this brew for three minutes.  The liquid was a reddish brown and smelled of warm chocolate with a hint of rose.  The scent was not strong.  The taste was of a sweet, yet full-bodied tea.  Rose and black tea were the prominent flavors with a hint of warm, sweet chocolate in the background.  This would make a nice dessert tea.

Anne of Green Gables

 

Title: Anne of Green Gables

Author: L.M.Montgomeryhttps://www.lmmontgomery.ca/about/lmm/her-life

Narrator: Kate Burton

Publisher: 2008 by Random House, Inc., originally published 1908

Format: 8 CDs, playing time 10.5 hours

Genre: classic, young adult

Obtained: library


Summary: Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert, sister and brother, decide to adopt an orphan boy to help Matthew with his farm work.  Matthew goes to the train station to pick up the boy, but when he gets there he finds there has been a mistake.  The boy is a girl, Anne Shirley.  Where will Anne's path take her from here?

Thoughts:  I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this book.  It was a wonderful escape to a simpler time.  I loved the realization that many things have changed, but many more have not.  Also, it encompassed all emotions, but the parts that were most memorable to me were the humorous ones.  Although there were serious issues written about in the book, such as sickness and death, the author wrote in a way that still made the book cozy and uplifting, rather than depressing.
     The setting of the story is Prince Edward Island in Canada.  The author made me feel that I was there and I could picture each beautiful place in my mind.  The real  Green Gables still stands and can be visited.  The house was owned by the author's cousins, but has been a National Histiric Site since 1985 and is in Prince Edward Island National Park.  L.M. Montgomery visited the house as a young girl.  "Lover's Lane", "the Haunted Woods", and "Balsam Hollow", all places in the book, can also be visited.  In fact, if traveling to Prince Edward Island, there is a whole "Anne Itinary" available to follow so that you can encompass yourself with the story.
     The characters were brought to life by the author.  I could picture the physical appearance of each one along with their mannerisms.  I found myself wanting to know the stories of the minor characters, as well as the main characters because each character was interesting in their own way.  This was one of those stories that felt as if the characters were real people.
     The narrator helped to bring the characters to life even more and I felt like her portrayals of Anne, Marilla, and Matthew were right on.  Her voice was clear and she read the story at a pleasing pace.  The tracks were also not too long, so it was easy to find my place if I lost it.
     I believe this is a book for all ages, not just children.  I think that girls and women would like it most since it deals with a lot of female issues and concerns. I tried listening to it with my two sons (ages 9 and 14), but they could just not get into it.  My fourteen year old found Anne annoying because she was dramatic and talked too much.
    This is a cozy book, with terrific characters, and a beautiful setting. It is more than just an entertaining story.  It is about community, friendships, families, life and love.



                                                                

     One of my favorite scenes in Anne of Green Gables is when Anne has her best friend Diana over for tea.  Anne is very excited to be serving Diana a special drink, raspberry cordial, which was left over from the church social.
     Instead of tea, I just had to make raspberry cordial to go along with this book.  I searched online and quickly found this wonderful blog post that has a recipe, created by the blogger, for raspberry cordial.  So, I have done a recipe review in place of a tea review this time around.
     I halved the recipe created by Tori Avery and this resulted in plenty of the drink.  The whole recipe would have been too much for my family of four.  I had some raspberries from my garden in my freezer, so thawed those (about 3 cups).  I mixed 1/6 of a cup of lemon juice with the thawed raspberries.  I then brought 6 cups of water mixed with 1 1/2 cups of sugar to a boil.  I poured the boiling liquid over the raspberry mixture and let this cool (about 2 hours) before placing it in the refrigerator to sit overnight.  The next day I strained the liquid through a fine sieve, the end result being a pitcher full of a beautiful red liquid.
     I mixed 1 cup of the red liquid with one cup of water to create the raspberry cordial that would be something like Anne served in Anne of Green Gables.  The concoction was delightful.  It was a beautiful red that had the scent of raspberries.  The taste was very sweet, smooth, and refreshing. It, of course, tasted of raspberries.  Tori Avery also suggests mixing the liquid with seltzer, which I did the next day.  This created a raspberry soda that reminded me of Izzy's Sparkling Blackberry Juice.  I also might try adding the raspberry juice to a small amount of ginger ale or lemon-lime soda.
   Just like Anne of Green Gables is really a story for all ages, so is this drink.  Making raspberry cordial after reading this scene with your young kids would be fun.  It would also show them how "juice" is made and I am sure they will love the color.  My 9 and 14 year old boys loved it and have requested that I make it again for Christmas.  It is also an elegant, refreshing drink for adults anytime of the year!  Thank you, Tori Avery, for this wonderful recipe.

The Girl With No Past

Title: The Girl With No Past

Author: Kathryn Croft

Publisher: Bookouture, 2015

Pages: 300

Genre: psychological thriller

Obtained: library






Summary: Something happened in Leah Mills' past.  She believes she should be punished for this. She works at a library during the day and goes home to her apartment at night and reads.  She has no friends and the only family she has is her mother, who she does not see often.  Just as Leah starts to believe she has punished herself enough and begins to form some realationships, her past comes back to haunt her.  Someone else believes Leah should continue to be punished, but who?

Thoughts:  This was a really good psychological thriller. It reminded me of I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan because both involved the question- who's seeking revenge on a person / people  that did something bad in their past?  The story is told by the protagonist and goes back and forth from her past (teen years) to present (14 years later).  The stories happening in each time period are good ones.  The writing is easy to follow, flows well, and kept me reading.  It was one of those books that is hard to put down because you want to know what is going on.  If I had the time, I could have read it in one sitting.  I really liked the author's writing style. There was enough description to picture what was taking place.  Some parts were creepy and chilling, other parts should have felt this way, but didn't- something was missing.
     Leah's character was developed throughout the story and by the end the whole person was revealed.  The other characters were not well-developed, but the story would not have worked if they had been.  Leah was telling the story and had just gotten to know most of the other characters.  Also, the reader was not supposed to know the characters that well because it added to the sense of mystery as to who was out to get Leah because of her past.
     The one major problem that I had with the book was the title.  I still do not understand how the title relates to the book in any way.  All in all, this was not a deep book, but a very entertaining one.  The author is an excellent storyteller.  She hooked me at the beginning and kept me hooked untilthe very end.





                                                                    

Company: Teema Teas

Tea: Jasmine Green

Obtained: purchased










     This Jasmine Green tea is another from my Teema Teas gift pack.  The gift pack came promptly when I ordered it with no problems and was nicely packaged.  This is the second tea I have sampled from the gift pack- the Moringa Green being excellent.
     I cut open the well sealed, pre-measured (for twelve ounces) package of tea and poured it into my teapot.  The scent of the leaves was a delicious sweet jasmine.  The leaves themselves were large and all different shades of green.  There were brown twig-like pieces mixed in.  I poured twelve ounces of water over the leaves and let this steep for two minutes.  The liquid was an amber color and smelled of the same sweet jasmine, but not as strong as the leaves.  The taste was of green tea with a light jasmine flavor in the background.  This was a good jasmine tea.