It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Feb 28

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday. 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome to the last Monday and the last day of February. That went by fairly quickly. Friday brought with it another 6+ inches of snow. Good thing it looks pretty on our walks, because it is no fun otherwise.

Dwight tried to help with the laundry this week, and Travis decided to hang out in my office. 

The second to the last dance show for the Lil' Princess took place this weekend. We are so proud of how she has developed as a young woman and a performer. I will miss this when she goes away to college in the fall.

As far as my reading world goes, my review of this book appeared here on Thursday.

My review of this book appeared at my children's book blog earlier in the week.

I also finished this one. You can read my review here. 

This group should be next, but I have First Chapter Reviews to perform for book tours in April as well. 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Since I've had enough of winter, I went ahead and changed to a spring mailbox. This week's forecast is supposed to be cloudy or partially sunny and dry. I'm hoping for some nice temperatures in Kentucky when we are there. 

My physical mailbox was empty, but I grabbed this e-book for free with some credits I had at Amazon.

I also received the first chapters of the next two books so I can offer First Chapter Reviews in April. 

That's it from me this week. I hope you'll share what you've been reading. I'm off to the doctor in the morning to talk about some recent test results. If I don't comment or visit your blog right away, I will be sure to do it later. 

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Book Review: Infographic Guide to Creating Stories by Hank Quense

Visual learners such as myself will be thrilled to know the process of writing a book has been broken down into a series of infographics that cover the nuts and bolts of how to create a story. 

Infographic Guide to Creating Stories by Hank Quense helps you get started by talking about a story's components, then moves on to setting, character building, plotting, and designing a scene. You'll learn about storytelling, voice, and putting all the pieces together. Quense also provides extras at the end you'll find helpful.

This is a unique and engaging way to help would-be writers get off the ground. Infographic Guide to Creating Stories is loaded with tons of information. Because of the infographics, it is easy to find exactly what you're looking for. The author was wise to make these infographics colorful, so they catch the eye.

Even though I am an experienced writer, I found new methods and resources within this book's pages that I look forward to using in the future. 

If you desire to write, but aren't sure how to go about it, Infographic Guide to Creating Stories by Hank Quense is a fabulous resource to help you understand the process of writing and propel you forward.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09PP6NYDZ
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Strange Worlds Publishing (January 5, 2022)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 119 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8985309713
• Purchase here!

I received a free digital copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Connecting with Christ edited by Yolanda Tonette Sanders

 

If you are looking for an inspiring new devotional, you'll find it in Connecting with Christ edited by Yolanda Tonette Sanders. 

In this 52-week devotional, you'll find encouragement as a variety of authors share anecdotes, life experiences, and a love of language that they skillfully connect back to God as Creator, Counselor, and Redeemer. 

Connecting with Christ shares one devotional per week, which allows you time to truly reflect on each author's words, read in full the Scriptures included, pray, and spend time recording your reflections. Though this devotional does not include dates, it is set up by theme, and those themes seem to flow easily with the year, like Renewal (weeks 1-5), Promises (weeks 14-17), Thankfulness (weeks 45-48), and Giving (weeks 49-52). 

I appreciated how some authors wove in references to the pandemic, because it truly shaped and impacted so many lives over the last few years. They talk about the losses, but also the blessings. 

It is a curiosity of mine how authors choose which Scriptures to share in a devotional. I'm sure the theme or themes help in the selection. These authors chose some of my favorites, but also some that I don't see as often. They included Old and New Testament passages. 

I've used Connecting with Christ alongside my daily Bible reading plan. This allows me to spend more time in the Word. I'm not a fan of writing in books, so I use Google sheets, a journal, or the notes app on my phone to record my reflections. 

If you are looking to grow your faith, need encouragement, or yearn to spend more time in the Word, Connecting With Christ will help you experience God's love, mercy, and compassion. 

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yo Productions, LLC (November 30, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 212 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1732850844
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1732850842
• Purchase here

I received a copy of this book from the editor. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Dynamic Duos

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.  

Here we are at Tuesday, which means Top Ten Tuesday. This week's topic is interesting. When I think of dynamic duos, I think of superheroes. But that's not really fair. You could view it as best friends in literature. My list will probably be a combination of both.

Top Ten Dynamic Duos

Father Ralph and Meggie Cleary - These two pretty much fought against everything--the difference in their ages, distance, Ralph's ambition, Meggie's marriage to Luke, and even the death of numerous family members to find love. It is a love that they held onto for most of their lives. There are definite ethical issues with the whole storyline, but they make the list because it's a dynamic love story.

Jessica Fletcher and Dr. Seth Hazlitt - I would have liked to include Sheriff Amos Tupper too, but we are talking dynamic duos. That is also why I can't talk about the main Harry Potter characters, because they are a Terrific Trio. 

It could be argued that the good doctor of Cabot Cove is the deuteragonist--the person second in importance to the protagonist in a drama-of Murder, She Wrote. Other than Jessica, who appears in all 264 episodes of the TV drama, Seth appears most often (53 episodes). They banter back and forth as they solve mysteries together and they are close friends. Some thought they would strike up a romance, but she remains true to Frank's memory.  

Dr. Michaela Quinn and Sully - From the moment Sully laid eyes on Michaela, he was smitten, but it is their dedication to fighting for what is right that makes them a dynamic duo. Whether getting to the bottom of mercy poisoning in town, helping their friends, protecting the environment, or being accepting of others, these two characters are a formidable force. 

Felicity King and Gus Pike - They came from totally different worlds, but they understood each other. They fell in love and held onto that love despite tragedy. In between, they had adventures. Gus has lived a life that never included the privileges Felicity knows as a member of the respected King family. He brings a different perspective about life to their relationship. As friends they made Avonlea a better place. We always knew somewhere, somehow, they would end up together. When the series ended, they were the future of Avonlea. 

Anne Shirley and Diana Barry - This red-headed orphan and her kindred spirit best friend may be my favorite dynamic duo. They were staunch supporters of each other, despite their different backgrounds. If I had to say one thing that truly bothered me about Anne With An E--the newest Anne series--it is that Diana isn't portrayed as firmly in Anne's corner as she is in the books and the previous adaptations. They shared so many things in their young lives, and even when they grow up and go their separate ways, they still manage to reconnect as women. 

Katniss Evergreen and Gale Hawthorne - Is there anything sadder than one best friend being in love with the other, but that other person doesn't feel the same? Katniss and Gale click in a way that Katniss and never Peeta do. They were best friends. They hunted together. He wanted more, but she was busy protecting her family. If it weren't for the death of Prim and Gale's thirst for revenge, would their destinies cross paths in the future? Would Katniss have made a different choice? 

Melanie Middleton and Jack Trenholm - Though Jack came into her life under false pretenses, he was good for her. Jack shook up Melanie's world and helped her as she navigated a life in which she had to cope with family secrets and past events that threaten to unravel her sanity. Together, they have managed to hold onto the historic house she inherited and protect it from ghosts and Marc Longo.  

Batman and Robin - The only adaptation I can deal with of Batman and Robin as the caped crusaders is the Adam West and Burt Ward version. At some point, these two dropped down into darkness as future movies and comics explored their stories. Adam West's Bruce Wayne/Batman is a wealthy entrepreneur when he becomes guardian of Dick Grayson/Robin. In this series, Grayson is a teenager when he joins Batman as his sidekick to help fight crime in Gotham City. Robin has a lot to learn from Batman, but they make a great crime fighting pair.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson - Speaking of crime fighting pairs, Holmes and Watson are the classic dynamic duo. Holmes has the analytical mind, but Watson is also highly intelligent. Though Holmes understood his own limitations, he also knew how much Holmes depended upon him, which made for a perfect match.

Calvin and Hobbes - I have few favorite comic strips these days, but when Bill Watterson was drawing Calvin and Hobbes, I never missed it. A boy and his imaginary pet tiger create all kinds of mischief, go on all types of adventures, and every once in a while have a falling out--just like any friendship is bound to endure. They talk about life issues, they share their dislike for a certain girl, and they might even give Calvin's parents more than one gray hair. Though I adored Charlie Brown and Snoopy, I totally fell in love with Calvin and Hobbes. 

We have come to he end of my dynamic duos. What did you think? I wasn't sure I could find as many literary ones as I did. Hope you enjoy my ramblings. 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday - Feb 21

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday. 

 

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Welcome back to Monday. Hope you had a nice weekend. I should probably warn you I am in a foul mood. I didn't get as much accomplished this weekend as I needed to. It has also been so cold that I thought my face would freeze off. I am so over winter. 

Okay, enough grumbling. I'll share some fun pictures now so you can smile.

Boots hanging out.

Brothers Travis and Dwight staring at who knows what.

Check out my new Easter decorations.

One nice thing that happened this week is that award season started. Here is my first real estate award from 2021. 

I posted this GIF on Facebook of my eyes popping out as I make my way through 90 hours of post licensing education for North Carolina. It is dull, but necessary. 

Now, on to reading. I posted my review of this book on Sunday.

My review of this children's book appeared here last week.

I also reviewed this book at my children's book blog on Sunday.

Look for my review on this book on Thursday.

I am almost finished with this book.  

I hope these are next.

I am heading to Kentucky in March for a real estate conference, so I am still thinking if I just want to bring my Kindle or if I will bring along a printed book. If I bring something printed, it might be one of these.

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

The Lil' Princess asked me to pick up a poetry collection for her last week. It arrived on Wednesday.

In her first collection of poems, Gabrielle G. depicts different love stories from the initial spark to the last heartbreak and writes in verses the heartache we've all been through. A poetry book to make your heart smile and weep at the same time.

Have you read it? Doesn't sound like something I would read, but I might check it out. 

That's it from me. Off work on the next 60+ hours of online education that I need to complete soon.