Loves Dandelions; Loves Books

Love, love, love Mercy Watts!  I can't wait to read the next 5 books of this series!  This book was laugh out loud hilarious!

"Well, if it isn't Mercy Watts."

It’s summer in St. Louis and Mercy Watts is on vacation from her parents. The great detective and his nosy wife are on a cruise and Mercy thinks she’s off the hook for doing any investigating for them. But when a family friend has a fatal heart attack, Dad has one of his famous feelings and orders Mercy to look into it. Mercy's a nurse, not a detective but she’s her father’s daughter and just can't help herself from doing a little detective work of her own instead of leaving it to her cousin. Soon Gavin’s death leads to a more grisly one, the death of a bride on her wedding day. Can the two be connected? Was Gavin murdered? Now Mercy can’t stop. You do for family. That’s all there is to it.

"I've heard about... You know you look just like... Marilyn Monroe," he said.
     "Mercy Watts," I said, "How are you today?"
"Fine, fine. I guess you hear that a lot."
     "Occasionally." Also known as every freaking day.

The mystery intrigued me, the characters were funny, quirky and believable, and I loved that Mercy Watts and her mother look just like Marilyn Monroe (only natural blondes with real boobs).  The story-line about their Marilyn Monroe likeness was just a mysterious and adds to a fun plot-line to the book. 

This is a beautifully well-written book that will open your eyes to the beauty and the need to protect the trees that are around you from the tree-tops down to their roots. This book will also help in understanding those that are on the spectrum and how they see those around them.

Fourteen-year-old March Wong knows everything there is to know about trees. They are his passion and his obsession, even after his recent falls—and despite the state’s threat to take him away from his mother if she can’t keep him from getting hurt. But the young autistic boy cannot resist the captivating pull of the Pacific Northwest’s lush forests.

One day, March is devastated to learn that the Eagle Tree—a monolithic Ponderosa Pine near his home in Olympia—is slated to be cut down by developers. Now, he will do anything in his power to save this beloved tree, including enlisting unlikely support from relatives, classmates, and even his bitter neighbor. In taking a stand, March will come face-to-face with some frightening possibilities: Even if he manages to save the Eagle Tree, is he risking himself and his mother to do it?

I loved this book! I highly recommend this book to tree huggers, people interested in climate change, nature lovers, hikers, or anyone that has ever climbed a tree even if you were to scared to climb down.

"I believe in trees. I can touch them. And they have true names."

"Trees do not require you to make certain sounds to be understood. They are simply present and ready for you to climb at any time. Trees are easier."

"Sometimes I think I would like to be a tree. Sometimes I think I am a tree, just located temporarily in a moving body, like one of the Ents from the Lord of the Rings"

"You cannot own all of a tree," I said.

"Sometimes I wish it was not so hard for me to make myself understood. I wish I could plug an electric cord from my brain into someone else's ears so that they could hear how I think and I could understand how they think."

"Human beings are on the cusp of destroying all of God's great natural world, which was originally gifted, according to the scriptures, to the human race, who would function as stewards of this great Earth. We have not been every good stewards in the last century."

This book was described to me by the publisher as a love/ghost/dog/revenge/ mother daughter story that's really fabulous and it was! This book is every woman's fantasy if she was cheated on by a love and dreams about what revenge she can do against her ex not only in this world but from beyond.

Joanna DeAngelis is consumed by betrayal, spending her numbered days cyberstalking Ned McGowan, much younger ex, and watching him thrive in the spotlight with someone new, while she wastes away with breast cancer. She’s every woman scorned, fantasizing about revenge … except she’s out of time or is she? Joanna falls from her life, from the love of daughters and devoted dog, into an otherworldly landscape, a bleak infinity she can’t escape until she rises up and returns and sets it right – makes Ned pay – so she can truly move on.

This book was at times emotional living through the good times of Joanna's romance, her illness with breast cancer and the aftermath when her heart was grieving for lost love and the living that loved her still on earth. The book was exhilarating when she acted out her revenge from beyond the grave wreaking havoc for her intended target. The Next was a great read but at times it was slow paced.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.


"I am a new element, now elemental, now ether, now risen, now doomed, and now ready to trespass against you as you trespassed against me. Closure time, Doc."

"I asked my mother what her favorite color was. She said, 'Water.'

The Invisible Life of Ivan Isaenko makes your eyes well up with tears one moment and shake with uncontrolled laughter the next moment. This is a unique take on a cancer love story that is more compelling.

"I need to share this place with you, Reader. I need to share my friends who I would never admit were my friends. I need to share my beloved with you, who I would never admit I loved. For if I don't document our world right now, on this ambiguously stained paper, with my fading pen, in my delirious left-handed penmanship, we will risk fading into the foam of history without mention. Reader, I hope after this you understand that we are entitled to more than that."

Seventeen-year-old Ivan Isaenko is a life-long resident of the Mazyr Hospital for Gravely Ill Children in Belarus. Born deformed, yet mentally keen with a frighteningly sharp wit, strong intellect, and a voracious appetite for books. Every day is exactly the same for Ivan, that is until a new resident named Polina arrives at the hospital. At first, Ivan resents Polina. She steals his books. She challenges his routine. But soon, he cannot help being drawn to her and the two forge a romance that is tenuous and beautiful and everything they never dared dream of. Before, he survived by being utterly detached from things and people. Now, Ivan wants something more.

I received a free advanced copy of this book from Netgalley through St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

A squirrel tried to kill me.

I was sitting in an Adirondack chair under a Maple Tree enjoying the evening breeze, reading the book 'Noggin' by John Corey Whaley. When I hear a loud whooshing sound of something falling through the leaves. I screamed and moved out of the way.

There sitting beside me on the ground was a half-eaten apple. I looked up at the tree and saw a squirrel peeking through the leaves at me. "Damn squirrel!" I yelled and opened my book back up.

Moments later, I see the squirrel sitting in the lilac bush plotting how to get his apple back.

I did manage to finish reading Noggin despite being almost murdered by a squirrel. 

Noggin is so funny and incredibly sad at the same time that your laughter fights with your tears. This book is my favorite of the year!

'Listen--I was alive once and then I wasn't. Simple as that. Now, I'm alive again. The in-between part is still a little fuzzy, but I can tell you that, at some point or another, my head got chopped off and shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado.'

Five years later, it was reattached to some other guy’s body, and well, here he is. Despite all logic, he’s still 16 and everything and everyone around him has changed. That includes his bedroom, his parents, his best friend, and his girlfriend. Or maybe she’s not his girlfriend anymore? That’s a bit fuzzy too.

"Found her," he interrupted. "She's at Carrie's OK Bar. It's downtown."
"What the hell is Carrie's OK Bar?"
"It's a karaoke bar. Travis, come on."
"Wait, how do you know she's there?"
"She checked in there about twenty minutes ago."
"What does that mean?"
"Oh. Right. Since you left, it's become very important that we all constantly know each other's thoughts, locations, and birthdays."
"That's really stupid. Except for in this one very specific situation. I can't go if her fiancé's there, though. That would be too weird."
"He's not."
"How do you know?"
"Because she put 'Girls' Night' with about five exclamation points after it."
"Are people just asking to be murdered?"
"Pretty much. So are we going?”

"I'm not sure I can do this anymore."
"Do what?"
"This. Exist. Be here like this with everything so fucked up."
"Hey, Travis? I don't think it really matters if you know how to exist."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think any of us do."
"Then what are we doing?"
"I don't know. We're just meandering."

A squirrel tried to kill me.

I was sitting in an Adirondack chair under a Maple Tree enjoying the evening breeze, reading the book 'Noggin' by John Corey Whaley. When I hear a loud whooshing sound of something falling through the leaves. I screamed and moved out of the way.

There sitting beside me on the ground was a half-eaten apple. I looked up at the tree and saw a squirrel peeking through the leaves at me. "Damn squirrel!" I yelled and opened my book back up.

Moments later, I see the squirrel sitting in the lilac bush plotting how to get his apple back.

I did manage to finish reading Noggin despite being almost murdered by a squirrel. 

Noggin is so funny and incredibly sad at the same time that your laughter fights with your tears. This book is my favorite of the year!

'Listen--I was alive once and then I wasn't. Simple as that. Now, I'm alive again. The in-between part is still a little fuzzy, but I can tell you that, at some point or another, my head got chopped off and shoved into a freezer in Denver, Colorado.'

Five years later, it was reattached to some other guy’s body, and well, here he is. Despite all logic, he’s still 16 and everything and everyone around him has changed. That includes his bedroom, his parents, his best friend, and his girlfriend. Or maybe she’s not his girlfriend anymore? That’s a bit fuzzy too.

"Found her," he interrupted. "She's at Carrie's OK Bar. It's downtown."
"What the hell is Carrie's OK Bar?"
"It's a karaoke bar. Travis, come on."
"Wait, how do you know she's there?"
"She checked in there about twenty minutes ago."
"What does that mean?"
"Oh. Right. Since you left, it's become very important that we all constantly know each other's thoughts, locations, and birthdays."
"That's really stupid. Except for in this one very specific situation. I can't go if her fiancé's there, though. That would be too weird."
"He's not."
"How do you know?"
"Because she put 'Girls' Night' with about five exclamation points after it."
"Are people just asking to be murdered?"
"Pretty much. So are we going?”

"I'm not sure I can do this anymore."
"Do what?"
"This. Exist. Be here like this with everything so fucked up."
"Hey, Travis? I don't think it really matters if you know how to exist."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't think any of us do."
"Then what are we doing?"
"I don't know. We're just meandering."

Only a few years before becoming a famous silent-film star and an icon of her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita, Kansas, to study with the prestigious Denishawn School of Dancing in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone, who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle, a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip, has no idea what she’s in for. Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous black bob with blunt bangs, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will transform their lives forever.

I love historical fiction especially when it's inspired by the life of silent-film star Louise Brooks or LuLu, what she was known as in the 20s; the actress that made the hair bob with bangs famous.

I started listening to the book as an audio book on a Greyhound trip but wasn't able to finish it on my vacation. I returned the audiobook to the library with the intent on rechecking it out but I forgot. Months later, I remembered that I hadn't finished it so I checked out the hard cover version and read the book. Even though it was months later, the reader's voice from the audio book was the voice that I used for the characters.

After you read the book you'll probably want to learn more about Louise Brooks; I know I do.

Everyone has probably heard about Swiss Family Robinson right (you know that family from Switzerland that made a home on an island). Well, what happens if zombies was the reason they landed on the deserted island in the first place?

The second book is about them making a home on the island - pretty much the first episode of a new Survivor season when they're making camp and exploring the island. Although in this book nothing else much happened because there wasn't enough zombies in this book at all. Quite frankly, I was a little bored.

Bill, the father irritated me with his "I'm the provider and hero" thing going on and then failing again when there were actual zombies to fight. Need more zombies!

Everyone has probably heard about Swiss Family Robinson right (you know that family from Switzerland that made a home on an island).

Well, what happens if zombies was the reason they landed on the deserted island in the first place?

I think Bill, the father needs to man-up and stop worrying that zombies may have been real people - they aren't now so kill them!

Swiss Family RobinZOM by Perrin Briar

One Island. One Family. A Million Zombies. One HELL Of An Adventure.

Trapped aboard a ferry destined for their new life in the Philippines, the Robinsons learn of an virus sweeping the planet. Early symptoms include a hacking cough, shortness of breath, and deathly pale skin. The exact same symptoms shared by a fellow passenger. Can they escape? Or are they doomed to sail the seas as undead for all time?

The classic tale, inspired by Robinson Crusoe, written by Johann David Wyss, adapted by Perrin Briar, is an adrenalin-pumping adventure of zombie survival. If your family was trapped on a doomed ship, what would you do?

From the writer who brought you the Blood Memory series and The Swiss Family RobinZOM comes this powerful first part in a new zombie series.

THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINZOM. Let the horror begin.

Q - What made you decide to give the first book away free?
A – I wanted to gift a free zombie book to everyone who enjoys the horror genre. I’m a new writer and it’s great knowing that someone out there is reading and enjoying my novel. There’s no greater feeling than that… Except perhaps for a good scare!

Q - Can readers get the whole series in one go?
A – The series is going to be very long, so I’ve bundled the books up into packs of four at a discounted rate on Amazon.

I'm on chapter 7 and I'm loving Book 1 so far!!

I listened to the audiobook that was read by Leah Remini and it didn't disappoint! It is an honest memoir that isn't sugar coated to make the author look good.

I am proud of Leah for telling her story of how she got mixed in with Scientology and what prompted her to come to her senses and leave that "church." Leah also talks about how she started her acting career, which is something that I always find interesting.

There were times during the book that I wanted to go back in time and shake Leah because a normal church wouldn't ask you spend thousands and thousands of dollars on them.  A normal church wouldn't enforce rules on you that if not obeyed you would be punished. A normal church wouldn't tell you that you had to disengage with friends or family because they're not a believer. A normal church wouldn't and shouldn't make you feel like crap and if it does then get out. 

I remember walking into a Scientologist Reading Room in the 90's and they showed me a price sheet of what I would need to pay for one of their auditing sessions. I laughed upon seeing the cost of the sessions and said, "I guess you have to be rich to belong here." The woman looked around to make sure no one was watching and then she nodded her head. I stood up and walked out the door.

My wish is that more Scientologists or people thinking about joining Scientology will take their blinders off and read this book and learn that this "church" isn't normal. 

This was an amazing magical book that has a fairy tale quality.

Jam and preserve maker Becca Robins finds time in between canning jam for Bailey's Market, baking cookies for the Christmas Tree Parade and dating a police officer to nose around into the murder of a Christmas Tree Farm vendor.  Becca's only clues to the killer are mysterious ornaments that begin to show up in her stall.

This 5th book of the Farmers' Market cozy mystery series will make you pine for a Christmas tree even if it's not Christmas yet. 

Before the charismatic John Duval Gluck, Jr. came along, letters from New York City children to Santa Claus were destroyed, unopened, by the U.S. Post Office. Gluck saw an opportunity, and created the Santa Claus Association. The effort delighted the public, and for 15 years money and gifts flowed to the only group authorized to answer Santa’s mail.

This book is not only about John Gluck and the Santa Claus Association but also about New York City history. There are stories involving stolen art, phony Boy Scouts, a kidnapping, pursuit by the FBI, a Coney Island bullfight, the country's first citywide Christmas tree and Macy's first grand holiday parade.

This seasonal read is perfect for Santa Claus lovers and history buffs. 

This is the 9th book of 'A Royal Spyness Mystery' series.

Lady Georgiana Rannoch is thirty-fifth in line for the British throne unfortunately money doesn't come with the royalty or a place to live. Luckily the Queen "asked" Georgie to be a companion to Princess Marina of Greece who is to wed George, the King's youngest son and stay at the haunted Kensington Palace until the wedding.

Her duties are simple: help Marina acclimate to English life, show her the best of London and, above all, dispel any rumors about George’s past affairs with women & men.  Nothing spoils a royal wedding more than murder, and the whole matter must be hushed. As always, Georgie is right in the middle of the investigation trying to find the answer to each clue. 

This a fun mystery for the royal watcher in all of us! 

Sugar Crush exposes the shocking truth about how a diet high in sugar, processed carbohydrates, and wheat compresses and damages the peripheral nerves of the body, leading to pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet, along with a host of related conditions, including migraines, gall bladder disease, and diabetes. If you suffer from ailments your doctors can’t seem to diagnose or help—mysterious rashes, unpredictable digestive problems, debilitating headaches, mood and energy swings, constant tiredness—nerve compression is the likely cause.

Sugar Crush includes a quiz in the book to assess if sugar is harming your body. I answered Yes to almost every question but two. I've been to the doctor many times concerning the symptoms I have but nothing has ever been discussed about nutrition or how much sugar I consume on a daily basis through sweets or processed foods. I started making small changes while reading this book (I checked the book out from the library 3 weeks ago) and am happy to report that some of my symptoms are already reduced. 

The author goes into great deal on how sugar is harming your body and is the cause to many health conditions but only spent one chapter on the diet that will help you quit sugar.  I am hoping the author writes a second book to go into more detail for Plan A: The Ketogenic Diet or Plan B: The Blood Sugar Regulation Diet.  Plan B is the one that I chose so now I'm looking for books to help me regulate blood sugar and kick the sugar habit.

It's a great read to understand how sugar is harming your body