What a way to end the week.

The weather the last couple days has only been so-so. I woke up this morning (6:15am to be exact) to my almost 4 year old crying because she last night Daddy told her that she needed to pick up her room when she got up. I don't know if she thought she had to use telekinesis to do it or what. The trials of a toddler. In any event, my husband got up with her and I was able to stay in bed until 7 (not that I went back to sleep). The sun was shining and I thought it seemed like such a nice day and how I wished I had something to do. At 7:30 I was checking Facebook and one of reminders came up for an event near me. How could I forget about the World's Largest Garage Sale at our local Fairgrounds?? Well of course I immediately had to get  myself dressed, my daughter dressed, gather some of our "out and about" stuff and head out.

We arrived pretty early considering I had forgotten about the whole thing. Even so, there were already tons of people. I brought a stroller in case my daughter got tired of walking and to put stuff we would end of buying into. I love garage sales because you can usually find good deals on lots of stuff....especially books!!!
As we made out way down the first alley I spotted a sign "Books From Local Authors" and made my way over. At this table I met Jordan Elizabeth and WK Pomeroy.

WK Pomeroy & Jordan Elizabeth (6/16/19) at the Worlds Largest Yard Sale at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds.

 

From there we continued down the next alley and I met Erin Maine. I thought how wonderful to have just came across 2 stops with local authors. My daughter and I continued, buying a couple books for me, books for her and of course stuffed animals. I mean who can pass up books for .50 each? .

Erin Maine (6/16/19) at the Worlds Largest Yard Sale at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds.

We had gone through the two buildings and headed off to check out the vendors outside before departing for a lunch date. It was definitely my lucky day as I found a 3rd stop with James McNally and his his books.

James McNally (6/16/19) at the Worlds Largest Yard Sale at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds.

This morning turned out to be so great. It's not everyday that you get to meet local authors, let alone four of them (at least I never have). What's even better? They all have their books on Amazon! Feel free to check them out -

Click here for books by Jordan Elizabeth 

  Click here for books by WK Pomeroy

Click here for books by Erin Maine

Click here for books by James McNally

Reading frustration, but something to smile about

With so many amazing books out there, I hate knowing there's no way I'll be able to read all of them in my lifetime. Sure, there's bunch of books on my shelves that I wouldn't mind reading when I get to them. And then there's a HUGE stack making up my current TBR (to be read) right away. That pile wasn't too bad, but recently I noticed it getting pretty high and it has actually started to make me frustrated. I am a stay-at-home mom and I also babysit. Basically from 6:30am until 8pm there isn't much "me" time, which in turn mean not much time to read. I have been reading Stephen King's It for months now and am just over half way. I know it's a very long book, but it really shouldn't have taken so long. I usually read more than one book at a time too. It has helped a little because while I feel I am not getting anywhere with It, I was able to finish a couple other books in just a couple days. Those make me feel accomplished.

Currently I have three books that I am working on and today I realized that I am getting overwhelmed because of It. I feel like I really need to focus on finishing It and once I do I won't have this frustrated feeling anymore. Have you ever gotten frustrated with reading? Was it a book in general or too many books? How many books do you read at once? Do you think people should only read one at a time? If not, how many is too many to read at once? All these questions I know, but I'd love to get to know MY readers, even if it is only a blog and not a book...you're still reading.

We both have a blanket and a book.

Today was a bit chilly in Upstate, NY and so I grabbed the blanket I won from a Helen Hardt giveaway and tried to get in a couple pages. My, almost 4 year old, daughter followed suit. She grabbed her blanket, book and climbed up on the other end of the couch. Granted I was only able to get a few pages in, but knowing she enjoys reading is so heart warming. Even though I may feel I am not getting enough reading done, I know that I am still making an impression with the reading I do get in. No matter how frustrated I get, I still have a reason to smile....she's my everything.

The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

The Wife Between Us

by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Available On Amazon
Available On Book Depository 

Rating (1-5) - 📘📘📘📘
Genre - Thriller, Suspense
Format - Hardcover
Pages -352

I received this in my Book Of The Month subscription box for May. 

It was also voted for the book of the month in Read N' Reviews Facebook Group. 

It will be discussed later this month. Check back for a link to the discussion.

Inside cover excerpt.

The just over one page prologue made me say "whoa" and I was quite excited to continue. I began reading about a woman who was very bitter about her marriage falling apart due to her younger replacement. She drinks to try and help relieve some of the pain of loosing her husband. I previously read The Girl On The Train as well as The Woman In The Window and was wondering if it was going to be just another book whose main character was a drunk and made up stories for attention. Turns out the woman did drink, but wasn't a drunk and who made up stories, but not for the reasons you'd think.

I find this book a bit hard to really review without giving away anything. I didn't find it as suspenseful as I thought I was going to. The ex-wife always seemed to lack a backbone. Instead of speaking her mind she'd either be shut down by someone else or not say anything. She made me quite annoyed throughout the book. Both of the women were a bit annoying with how much control they let Richard have over both their lives. I also thought that maybe there was too much effort put into "dealing" with Richard. I get that the ex-wife was trying to right a wrong, but I think she should've just moved on. What he did was not right, but it wasn't as bad as it seemed it was going to be. Then again, if she'd just moved on there wouldn't have been a book either.

The cover tells you not to assume anything and you really shouldn't. It did make me stop halfway through and wonder if I had even been paying attention to what I was reading.

The Megarothke by Robert Ashcroft

The Megarothke

by Robert Ashcroft

Available On Amazon
Available On Book Depository 

Rating (1-5) - 📘📘📘1/2
Genre - Science Fiction
Format - Softcover
Pages - 280

I am not a science fiction fan, but this book made me think that I should check more out in that genre. I received this book in my March PageHabit subscription box. As always, I enjoyed the author annotations throughout the book.

At first I was thinking that it was going to be another one of the stories (ok I haven't read a story like this before so I was thinking more like a movie, but still) where it's all going to be about robots and one person who does everything. I also thought that I might not finish it because its not a "thriller" or "suspense" book. Well, it wasn't about just one person and I did finish. As a matter of fact I was able to read it in just a couple days.

It's the future, 2051 to be exact, and after the Hollow War there are 50,000 people left in the world all living in Los Angeles. The billionaires had fled to the Orbital which was like a world above the city. Robot monsters know as fiends, harbingers and bruisers and bionic people are roaming everywhere and are said to be controlled by the Megarothke. No one knows where the Megarothke came from  or when it came to Earth. The only thing that people do know it that it needs to be destroyed. Theo wants to uncover his feeling of having had a part in the Megarothke and to rid the world of it. The story goes back and forth between the current year and Theo's past when him and his wife were together and their separation. I was able to stay with the story up until the end. I actually started to get confused when Theo figured out what he had to do. I thought the ending was dragged out a bit longer than it needed to be.

Although I didn't care for the ending I did still think it was a good book and that people who are more into the science fiction genre many appreciate more than me.

Crimson River by N.B. Austin

Crimson River (The Civilands Series : Book 1)

by N. B. Austin

Available On Amazon

Rating (1-5) - 📘📘📘📘
Genre - Fantasy
Format - Softcover
Pages -242

I was lucky enough to win the whole series of The Civilands by N. B. Austin. This review is for the 1st book in the series. I recommend you purchase the whole series unless you enjoy being left wondering what happens. I think this is the first fantasy book I've read and I surprised myself at how into I got, so much so, that I read it in just a few days. Although there are many characters, it's easy to know who is who and what part they are playing. The characters and the settings are all explained so well you're able to picture it without thinking.

In the Murrieta, trading is a way of life and very profitable for those who control the trade routes. Jeannie Morrell is only 13 years old when looses her entire family as the Keagan gang seeks to take over all the trading in the Murrieta Territory. The Keagan gang doesn't care who gets in their way or what they need to do to become the richest around even if it means killing others. The Morrells are not the only people that stand in the way of the Keagans. There are also the V'ahani, who are peaceful people. The V'ahani are able to speak to the Grizzly Bears and will use them to help defend their people if need be. The V'ahani people are unaware of the betrayal in their group as they put their trust in an outsider to help them against the Keagan gang.

The story takes you on a journey from the beginning of the Keagan takeover, through the travels of Jeannie, the V'ahani and others. Will anyone be able to stop the Keagan gang from overtaking the Murrieta Territory or will they all end up under a new leadership? Will Jeannie and the others be able to return home or will the have the same fate as so many before them who tried to stop the Keagan gang? I will say again, you will want to have the second book ready for when you finish this one.

Interested in the rest of the series? Check them out on Amazon -

Crystal Eyes (Civilands Book 2)

Crescent Heart (Civilands Book 3)

Or get the whole series and save  

Civilands (3 Book Series)