Book Review: Growing Up Colt:: A Father, a Son, a Life in Football

Growing Up Colt: A Father, a Son, a Life in Football by Colt McCoy

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If I was walking down the bookstore or library isle, this would probably not be one of the first books that I would pick, so why did I read it? Well, an easy answer would be that I love books, but in reality I discovered the Goodreads Firstreads Giveaways, and this book was listed and so I entered and actually won the book. YEAH! There is nothing in the world I like more than a free book.



So I thought it ight be good, and I do enjoy football, and I knew who Colt McCoy was, but I hadn't watched him too much at Texas, but I remember the Chris Simms/Major Applewhite years. Of course I was having my own babies during the Vince Young years and don't remember them much, so I was tempted by the book. And the fact that he wrote it with his father was interesting, I wanted to know what it was about.



I probably wasn't five pages into the book, when I read my favorite line. "Prepare your children for the path, not the path for your children", so any parents today want to go ahead and clear the path for their children, to fill in the potholes and pick up the rocks, but if you clear the path for them, what happens when you are not there, they have no idea how to handle the bumps in the path.  I firmly believe this too, if you teach a child how to handle the holes and rocks, then they will always know what to do for the rest of their lives when things come up. I have shared this passage from the book almost daily since I first read it.



At this point, I am ready to pass the book on for my son to read, and although he doesn't play football anymore (bad Pop Warner experience), I still find that there are a great many things that he can benefit from reading.  I also plan to pass the book on to my daughter, and although she is a dancer instead of a football player, I find that the lessons Colt learned and talks about are general enough, they can be applied to dance just as well. The value of working hard, eating right, getting enough sleep and putting God first will always produce results, no matter the sport.



I have to admit that I was surprised by the book. I don't think I ever realized Colt's faith while he was playing football at Texas, but then again I live in Indiana, where basketball is king and football is a sidelight. We don't get to see too much football the way they play it in Texas around here.



I recommend this book to anyone who is raising children! I think you will find some basic truths that our parents and grandparents all knew, but for some reason have fallen out of fashion with todays parents. It will remind you why the ways of our parents and grandparents worked, and why they had far less trouble with children than we have today.



Yea, I gave this book 5 stars, and I don't do that often, but the message is so important to kids today, and i can't see how anyone could over look what is being said, but i know there will be those out there that "poo" the faith aspect of the book, ans that right there probably answers the question as to why so many people are lost and looking for answers, a lack of faith and belief in God in our  society.



I loved the book and can't wait to hear what my children think as I pas it on to them to read and learn from, and I only hope that I can raise children with a strong faith and work ethic in this world today.



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Book Review: The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1)

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My son came home from school one day with this book, and said Mom could you help me read this. I ws over-the-moon. You have to realize this was the boy that had struggled with reading, had a tutor one whole summer, and was still almost a full grade level behind. He hated to read, it was a struggle and it was an out-and-out fight to get him to read.  So when he came home and asked to read this, I was happy to.

Every night before bed I would read a couple of chapters, then it became more and more chapters at a time as he got more and more into the book, and then it began earlier in the night, so that the girls could listen to. He listened as I read, night aftr night, chapter after chapter, and even book after book, until we finished the whole series.

When the movie came out, my husband and I took the whole family to se it, and we talked in the car all the way home about the things they changed, they took out, they messed with and what not. About how it differed from the book.

As few days after the movie, my son once again came home with the book. This time, he was going to read it again, but by himself this time, instead of Mom reading, and he did, in fact he read the whole series again. Now he waits with baited breathe for each new Rick Riordan book to come out. Thank you! From the bottom of a mother's heart for a book that made my son want to read!



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Book Review: The Dark Glamour (a 666 Park Avenue Novel, #2)

The Dark Glamour by Gabriella Pierce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the second book in the series, and I received a copy of the book from a Goodreads First-Reads Giveaway, which was so exciting! Nothing in the world could be better in my opinion than a free book!!  But, that being said, I can't read books out of order, it just drives me nuts, so i had to wait to read this one until I went to the library and got a copy of the first book and read it.

This book starts with Jane on the run, hiding in new York or all places. She and Malcom went different directions, because no one would think they would and it would be easier to hide, and secondly she just couldn't be with Malcom anymore after learning all she had.  Jane spends 3 weeks, hiding out on her own, with no contact with the few friends she made because she is worried for their safety. Finally, she checks out a lockbox that Malcom left her, and realized that he did take care of her, and limitless supply of cash, so she finds a place to live and calls us Dee.

In this second book, we don't know where Malcom is, but actually she told him before they parted to set up and email and contact her, but she never hears from him, and toward the end of the book, what she thought were spam emails from a wedding site and actually emails from Malcom, just basically letting her know where his is, in case she needs him. This time, she works with her friends, but she tries to keep them at bay as much as possible, only to find out that good friends, are the kinds that stick with you no matter what, even if it might cause someone to get hurt.

In this book we learn more of the family history of the Doren's, and the fact they they are traced from the very first witch, and which of the witches seven daughters this line runs from.

Jane sets out to get her life back by giving Lynne what she has always wanted, only to realize after she does it that she did the wrong thing, in fact her own grandmother was in on the plot to keep that from Lynne, and when she tries to make amends, it's too late Lynne has already gotten to her and her story has been told, making Jane again, enemy number one.

What this means for the next book, I have no idea, but I think now that Jane finally realizes that her friends are there through thick and thin and they don't blame her for the problems, or for the things they have had to endure, things might start getting better. Her friends have some knowledge and some history on their side that Jane really needs to know and learn before she makes another attempt and Lynne.

It was a great book, and I really enjoyed reading it. It was so not what I have been reading laely, but I enjoyed it, and can't wait for the next book to come out!!



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Book Review: 666 Park Avenue

666 Park Avenue by Gabriella Pierce

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is the first book in a series, and I won the second book in the series on Goodreads, so of course I had to go to the library and pick up this book to read first. can't read them out of order!!

So, the back of the book mentions a witch of a mother-in-law, who is a real life witch. Ok, but it took a long time into the story to get to that actual point, in fact it was almost the middle of the story before that was discovered, so I felt a little lost for awhile.

Jane Boyle is our main character, and is living in Paris, working as an architect when she meets the perfect man, and after a whirlwind romance, Malcom proposes to her and of course she accepts. Her only requirement is that they stop back at her grandmother's out of the way farm to say goodbye.  Here Jane finds that her grandmother has passed away, and left her a note tell Jane that she is a witch.

Now Jane is confused, but thinks she is going to hide this all from Malcom, and go on with her new life.  They arrive in New York to met the family, and Jane feels even more lost. Her mother-in-law seems to like her, but also seems to want to rule her life.  Jane does manage to get a part-time job and a friend, which makes things a little better, except that her friend has secrets, and knows more about Jane's new family that she is telling at the moment.

The first few chapters are a little hard to get through.  I had to keep going back because the back cover mentions that Lynne, the mother-in-law is a witch, and she is, but the first of the book we find out that Jane is a witch and she is just discovering that and trying to learn about her powers, and so I felt a little confused. Finally, a huge confrontation between her and fiance Malcom near the middle of the book explains it all and makes sense of everything. Of course another confrontation with Malcom at the end of the book, leads into the second book.

Although it started slowly for me, and I had trouble following along, I think because I got too caught up in the teaser on the back of the book, should have just ignored it altogether, I liked the book, and am currently reading the second.  It is a different format, not a cozy-mystery, which I have been reading alot of lately, but a fun and social book. I enjoyed it.



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Cook Book Review: Donuts

Donuts by Elinore Kilvans

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Okay, so it has been a bad day! I have been yelling at the computer all morning, it keeps jumping and typing where-ever it wants to type and not where I want it to type, and then I am having trouble with passwords from a year ago at Girl Scout registration time.

The mail comes, and in the mail, as a Goodreads First-reads giveaway, I find "Donuts" in my box.  That was probably the est thing that could have happened to me today!

I sat down and looked through the book, and I found a number of great receipes, so many that look so tempting, but I think the first one that I will have to try will be one for my daughter, and that will be the Maple-Bacon Donuts! That girl LOVES bacon, and she will love these, get a kick out of bacon on donuts, but its all breakfast food.

I can already tell, this is going to be a much-loved, much-used book in my house!



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Author Julie Hyzy

Author Julie Hyzy

A White House Chef Mystery

1.  State of the Onion

2.  Tail of the Chef

3.  Eggecutive Orders

4.  Buffalo West Wing

A Manor House Mystery

1.  Grace Under Pressure

2.  Grace Interrupted

As you all know by now, I HAVE to read things in order, and so I like to keep track of the many different series that I have read, especially when an author has done more than one that I like.  So in this post, I have listed a favorite author, and then two different series that she writes, with the books in each series in order. As she writes more I will update, but I love to have this because it helps me to remember what I have and what I have read.

Book Review: Buffalo West Wing (White House Chef Mystery #4)

Buffalo West Wing by Julie Hyzy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What happens to the kitchen staff at the White House when a new president takes over? Well, it may not always happen the way this book portrays, but this is a glimpse into that life. In this, the 4th book in the White House Chef series, there is a new family in the White House, which in turn means some new staff, and even new secret service personal. And although we have never seen it get this hairy, it is a good glimpse into that life.

Ollie is the first female executive chef in White House history, but that doesn't mean cooking for a new family is a piece of cake, especially when you have at least two people on the staff pulling for you to fail!  When Ollie discovers a favorite treat of the new first kids in the kitchen, but can't figure out where they came from, she does the only think she can, lets the secret service know and puts the offending treat aside.  The difficulties of cooking for a new family pop up quick when the kids find out about the treat, and are disappointed at not being allowed the treat, and the new First Lady is upset with Ollie.  She hasn't learned the protocols, and as the secret service is quick to remind Ollie, she did the right thing, but the new First Lady has learned how careful they have to be. It causes some friction and dislike from the beginning.

The now history relationship between Ollie and her secret service boyfriend causes some upsets, as they still have to work together, and Tom still hasn't figured out that Ollie doesn't try to put herself in the middle of things, she just happens to look for answers and is well-suited to being a White House employee, because she questions everything to make sure that all is being done to protect the First Family.  The reason she ends up in the middle is that she asks questions and is observant, and it bothers Tom.  Too bad he couldn't embrace her nature, they might have been able to make a fantastic team watching over the First Family.

Another great book by Julie Hyzy, now I just have to figure out what to do until I can get my hands on the next book in the series.



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Book Review: Eggsecutive Orders (White House Chef Series #3)

Eggsecutive Orders by Julie Hyzy

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book 3 of the White House Chef Series begins with Ollie being awaken by a phone call telling her the Secret Service is on it's way to pick her up, what? She is confused and the confusion only grows.  She finally finds out that someone at dinner last night has died, but knowing everything her kitchen and staff does, she can't understand why they are questioning her and the staff. Then she is hit with the realzation, that not only are they questioning her and her staff, they are locking them out of the kitchen for the time being, nothing will be cooked, and it's the week before Easter and the White House Egg Roll, not to mention that Ollie has finally talked her Mom and Nana into flying out to visit her.

To make matters worse, her questioning ways have made the Secret Service Agent over the White House Staff dislike her so much, that he is out to get her, along with a couple other people...we met Peter Sargant III again in this book, and he is openly gloating about this turn of events.  So they agent, Craig assigns her boyfriend Tom to watch over Ollie and threatens him that if she so much as asks the wrong questions his job is toast.

This all leads Ollie, not only on qustioning what happened an how it could happen, but also on a quest to answer some questions in her own life. She realizes that she is just the type of person that has to ask questions, she can't ignore her feelings and that just doesn't fit with what Tom needs. it probably isn't a good fit in the White House, at least in the Secret Service's mind, they want to figure things out, but in reality it is probably in the best interest of the White House to have someone like Ollie around, that doesn't just do her job, but loves her job and the people, and refuses to let things just hang, she needs answers!

Another awesome book by Julie that I recommend to all!!!



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Book Review : Hail to the Chef (White House Chef Mystery #2)

Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I discovered Julie Hyzy and the White House Chef Mystery Series not that long ago. I really like it.

In this book, the second in the series, it is Thanksgiving and there are alot of things going on at the White House.  Someone ends up dead, and it effects the staff and family in the White House.

This was a little different in alot of respects, one is that the "boyfriend" of our lead character is not in this book at all. There is none of the relationship tensions that you normally see in a cozy, and that is really nice for a change.

The First Lady's nephew "commits suicide" at the beginning of the book, which throughs everyone off, I mean when has that ever happened, and no one can believe it was a suicide, it doesn't fit or work. So of course Ollie is looking into things, and it's not that she is trying to find the killer or investigate, like alot of cozy mysteries, it's just that she questions what is going on and her mind needs answers, and when the ends don't match up right, she is not the type of person to just walk away and let it go.  She tends to get in trouble with the Secret Service because she refuses to accept explanations that don't make sense.

I love this series because she is just a normal person asking normal questions, and in that course she ends up in the middle of the investigation.





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Book Review: Midnight Crystal

Midnight Crystal by Jayne Castle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Somewhere in the future, on a world called Harmony, life has evolved. Para-senses have developed and life has changed, but mysteries still abound.

There is just something about the world of Harmony, something that makes me wish it really existed. The men are stronger and sexier, the women know what they want and are strong and independent.  It's like a better version of life.

This book fits in the Acrane Society and the futuristic series. It is an awesome read.

We return to the Jones family, founders of the Acrance Society and Jones & Jones, and the Winters family, the biggest rival of the Jones, and almost always on the other side, until they realize they need to work together. Each time a Winter's male needs the Burning Lamp, they find they need to pair with the Jones family. Their ancestors may not have enjoyed each other, and may have worked against each other at times, but the reality is that the wold needs both sides, the chemical and the science sides, to take care of the problems that arise.

I loved this book, but then I have loved every book set on Harmony. There is just something about Harmony. I would love to actually see it, to live on Harmony. Can't wait for another!!



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Book Review: Burning Lamp

Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Normally, I can pick up an Amanda Quick novel, and be into it and reading from the start, but for some reason this book was hard for me to get into.  It didn't feel like he other books, and I didn't feel like I really got to know either of the main characters all that well.

Adelaide is the female main character, and it seemed to take a long time to get a feel for her, the first chapter when she is introduced seems almost out of place, and I didn't get a feel for her.

Griffin, the male lead, is not what he seems. It doesn't seem as polished or as developed as the male characters in her other books, I feel so much of him was still a mystery, and although there is so much more to him than his profession, that seems to be the only thing the female lead an focus on and talk about.

This is the second book in the Dreamlight Trilogy, and personally I didn't feel it gave me anything that I hadn't already learned in the first book of the series.  This is hard to say, it is hard to say something bad about an author that I love to read.



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Book Review: The Irish Cottage Murders

The Irish Cottage Murder: A Torrey Tunet Mystery by Dicey Deere

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Glancing through the shelfs at the library, had a few books, but just was looking when this title jumped out at me. I love anything Irish so I grabbed it and thought it might be good.

The author wrote in a different style. Each chapter was short and slightly choppy. Some chapters wee only one page long. Each chapter was a different person, and not the just two different characters but a large number of different characters. I still am not sure that I have a grasp on each of the characters, and it was the end before I got the murderer, there were just so many twists and turns.

Torry is the main character, she is 27 and a translator. She travels the world, but carries a great deal of guilt with her. As a teenager, she "stole" some dirty money while babysitting. The actions changed the lives of a great number of people.

Desmond is one of he characters, and although we only see him alive in the first few chapters, we learn more and more about him and his character, as it has influenced the lives and actions of other people.  Torry and Desmond has a lot in common in that regard, but they use the events in their lives to different means. 

Torry is accussed of Desmond's murder, and although she didn't do it, and it seems beyond me that the local police actually thought her a subject, she wasn't even in the area when he was killed, they had decided that she was the murderer and it fell to her to clear her own name.



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Book Review ; Fired Up

Fired Up by Jayne Ann Krentz

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'll be honest. If you give me a book by Amanda Quick or Jayne Castle, I will read it in a heartbeat, but when it came to books written under the Jayne Ann Krentz name, that was another story. 

The same author writes under all three names, but Amanda Quick is historical and Jayne Castle is future, whereas the Jayne Ann Krentz were modern day. There was just always something about them that I could not get into. But, since this was Arcane Society, and I really like those, and this was number One in a trilogy, I figured I was going to have to try.

I am happy to say, that after a few false states, Thursday evening I sat down and really stared the book. I found that once I got past the prologue and into about the 4th Chapter that I really starting liking the book.  It just started slow for me, which gave me a little trouble actually reading the book to begin with.

Although this is the first book in the Dreamlight trilogy, it is actually the 7th book to deal with the Arcane Society, so you will find some familiar names if you have read some of the Arcane books. I have read some of them, but usually only the one under the Amanda Quick or the Jayne Castle names. Now I am going to have to go back and try to do the Krentz ones too.

The book starts slow, and the first couple of chapters have you guessing as to why they are even included, but it starts to pick up and it all becomes clear.



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