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Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Winning the Endgame ~ A Book Review

Get used to it, the Population of the world is aging and aging quickly. Let's clarify, it is still aging one day at a time, but there aren't as many young ones coming up in the ranks to fill our shoes and our responsibilities to our family's and society as a whole.

Gone are the days when your children would look after you when you were no longer able to do it yourself. Today we need to make our own plans for what our future looks like and there is no better time to start than right now!

Aging is something that we really don't give too much thought to. It's a topic that really doesn't interest us until we are at that "AGE" when our bodies and maybe our minds start to slip a little. \

I can remember vividly during my 40's and early 50's never needing a phone book! I could remember peoples' faces and names and yes their phone numbers as well. Then all of a sudden one day I could not remember a friend's phone number that I would have called at least twice a week.

What was going on with me?

It was time to take a good hard look at the aging process and understand what was happening to my mind as well as my body.

No one has the magic pill that will keep these things from happening to us, but we can and do have tools that will make life (and aging) that much easier.

First and foremost, get used to writing things down. You will NOT remember! ( Or you might remember two weeks later ) Get used to it!

Don't give in though! Reading and using your mind to do puzzles, crosswords, math problems like SUDOKU, will help to keep your mind sharp. So don't just sit back and let nature take it's course without giving it a hard time. Using the brain cells will help to keep it active.

Join some groups that will teach you new skills. Maybe something that you have been wanting to do for a long time, but never had the opportunity or time to pursue. Painting, quilting, needlepoint, card playing, fitness classes ( for seniors of course), sitting in on some university courses or listening to podcasts on any topic you enjoy, will help to keep your mind and even your body moving.

Take the time to do some reading about aging, what to expect and how to win at the "End Game"!

We will all do this at some point in our lives, so let's do it our way!

This book might be the help you need to get you started!

With a little humour and lots of honesty, this time in your life could be the best that ever was! Winning the Endgame is an easy read and just might get you on the road to looking at the rest of your life with open eyes and a willingness of spirit.

May we all live our lives well and smile at everything that we have experienced during our voyage around the sun!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN), Esty (Awin), and/or Zazzle Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Reviewing The Forgetting by Hannah Beckerman

The Forgetting by Hannah Beckerman was a beautifully crafted book and a real page-turner. It is about two women and they tell their stories in alternating chapters. Let me tell you about them; first, there is Anna who we meet when she wakes up in a hospital bed in London and has amnesia. She doesn't even remember her husband, Stephen.

When Anna is discharged to move home it's like her house is a stranger's home. Stephen takes her to a few places that they used to frequent, but it doesn't jog any memories. She really can't even enjoy her favourite novels. She is feeling trapped and quite disorientated in her life.

The author writes so well that you can feel Anna's frustration at not being able to remember. I also didn't like her husband Stephen and felt very suspicious of him. I was glad when she met a new friend as her life was so insular and it seemed strange that there was no one except Stephen to help her remember her past.

Next, we meet Libby who is a new mum to baby Leo and is looking at returning to work. She lives in Bristol and is close to her parents and sister and is newly married to Dominic. Her husband is definitely gaslighting her and I will admit to being frustrated at her blind loyalty to him. I really wanted to shake some sense into her!

Dominic's controlling behaviour did make me think that his stories about his parents were probably not the whole truth and I was looking forward to getting to the bottom of that mystery when his mother turned up. The book was so well written that I got extremely agitated when he put his career ahead of Libby's chance at a promotion - I wanted to reach into the book and tell her to snap out of the spell he had over her!

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it up until I was finished. I did guess the twist, but it took me a little longer than it generally does.

I was very happy to see that Hannah Beckerman has written other books and I'm keen to read them too. Have you read The Forgetting or any of her other novels?

This book came up as recommended for me in my Kindle Unlimited subscription and I thoroughly recommend downloading it when you have a few hours free, curl up with your favourite cup of tea, grab a snack (like these delicious protein cookies) and enjoy!

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Monday, September 18, 2023

The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon Book Review

A newborn was abandoned in a small town laundry. He was left in a basket and found on the verge of death. His story made the news and he was named Moses. Unlike the biblical babe left in the basket and placed in the river, this Moses was a crack baby. Crack babies, due to being exposed to drugs before their birth, are expected to have many physical and mental difficulties. In some ways, Moses followed a similar trajectory as many children born with drug exposure and with absent parents. He was passed from home to home, had difficulty in school, and was thought to have seizures and hallucinations. However, he is also very different than those similar children in a way that can either be considered a blessing or a curse - depending on how you look at it.

"People love babies, even sick babies. Even crack babies. But babies grow up to be kids. Nobody really wants messed up kids."

I was lost in Amy Harmon's The Law of Moses. From the prologue that warned of heart-breaking loss to the last few words I was hooked. I fell in love with Georgia and Moses. We join their lives as they are in their senior year of high school.

Moses eventually comes to live with Kathleen, his great-grandmother. He is turning 18 and will be aging out of the system. He is a very talented mural painter, painting his graffiti where he shouldn't and he sometimes knows people he shouldn't. Kathleen lives next door to Georgia's family and has made arrangements for Moses to work on their farm.

Georgia was the youngest child, born years after her own siblings. But she had grown up with many children as her parents were foster parents. As the story begins, her family is running an equine therapy program. While Georgia has seen Moses previously, during his visits with Kathleen when he was younger, this is the first time she's getting to know him. Or trying to get to know him. While most everyone else is suspicious or afraid of Moses, Georgia is drawn to him. But he's one of those "troubled" kids that most people avoid. Even the horses want to remain far from him. But Georgia can't stop herself.

"Whatever it was, when Moses came to Levan, he was like water-cold, deep, unpredictable, and, like the pond up the canyon, dangerous because you could never see what was beneath the surface. And just like I'd done all my life, I jumped in head first, even though I'd been forbidden. But this time, I drowned."

The story continues over the next several years as Georgia and Moses go through some very difficult times, with and without each other, moving into adulthood. They are faced with adult problems and adult decisions.

My review does not do this story justice. I almost didn't write a review because I cannot describe it adequately without spoilers. Amy Harmon's writing is beautifully descriptive. It is easy to imagine the horses, scenery, and breath-taking murals. The characters are unique. Georgia and Moses are independent, strong, very different from each other, and both are very stubborn. This is described as a young adult and/or a coming of age romance but it is far from being confined to those genres. It includes the mysterious disappearances of young ladies, beautiful murals being painted on buildings and overpasses of people who are missing or passed away, and a "different" young man who everyone blames for some of the bad things that happen. This story also has a paranormal aspect. I hadn't known that before I chose to add this book to my Kindle. If I had known, I probably would have passed the book by. I feel that most books with a paranormal bend seem contrived and difficult to believe. But Amy Harmon introduces and proves Moses' special abilities in a way that seems possible. Georgia and Moses are flawed characters who might not be easily likable but who won't be easily forgotten.

See additional reviews and get your copy of The Law of Moses on Amazon here.

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Sunday, September 17, 2023

Couch Cushion Seat & Back Cover Protectors Look Great - 5 Star Review

Recently, I've had to protect the light-colored furniture in our newly created TV room upstairs.

We have family staying for a while, and the beige sofa and chairs need a little extra protection. As most of you know, my mom recently passed away; this furniture is from her living room. Needless to say, I'm a bit overprotective of it.

There Are Many Couch Protectors and Slipcovers Styles, So Why Did I Choose These? (Scroll Down to View the Photos)

My mom's couch and chairs have skirts on the bottom, so purchasing the ones that slip over the entire couch would not work. These particular slipcovers have elastic that grabs at the bottom and that would crinkle up the skirts.
If you look closely at the photos of the full slipcovers provided by verified purchasers, I found the crinkled look sloppy.
A few people complained of slipcovers coming off, especially with pets and people just sitting on the couch.

The Couch Seat Covers I Selected are Not Water Resistant

I debated purchasing a water-resistant cover, but after researching, some comments said they made a bit of noise when you sat on them. No thanks.
Since I wasn't purchasing the protectors for pets, I chose the comfy-cozy ones I selected below.

Why I Approve of These Seat Covers:

They're soft
They slip on easily
They stay on perfectly when you sit on them
They fit the back cushions on the sofa as well
They're elegant-looking
They do come in many colors
They're machine washable (I haven't had to wash them yet)
The price was acceptable
It solved the problem of protecting the couch

What You Should Be Aware of With These Couch Cushion Covers:

They come in packs of 2 or 3
They come in three size choices
They come in many colors
Measure your sofa seat length, width, and height first
They are relatively thin, so if you need them to provide a liquid barrier, these aren't the ones to choose

Here Are Some Photos of the Cushion Covers (Notice I Was Able to Place Them on the Back Cushions as well):

I've since added these matching arm covers and pillow covers as well.

Note: The chairs are not covered in these photos.
They have since been covered with the same product.

Here's a fun side note: When I backpacked through Europe in 1978, I picked up those three photos on the back wall from the streets of Paris - they were in my mom's upstairs hallway from 1978 to 2021, now they're in my home. The needlepoint deer was made by my grandmother (my mom's mom, and when mom passed, it came to me) - The furniture is also my mom's, so we affectionately refer to this little tv room as "The History Room." There's a cabinet with more photo memories and a tv on the other wall.

★★★★★ - 5 Stars from me. Purchaser approved.

You Can Find These Lovely Cushion Covers on Amazon Here

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Saturday, September 16, 2023

Dark Angel by John Sandford – Book Review

Book #2 in the Letty Davenport Series

Readers of the book review of The Investigator here on ReviewThisReviews will remember who Letty Davenport is – the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport from John Sandford's Prey novels.

Now Letty returns in Dark Angel, Book 2 of 2 of what I suspect will be a continuing series. Fans of the Prey series starring Lucus will be delighted with the adventures of Letty Davenport. As always, anything by John Sandford is an excellent read!

Dark Angel Synopsis

In the first Letty Davenport novel, Letty proved herself as an investigator with incredible skills with firearms. Her actions drew the attention of several branches of the US government. Thus, the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have now tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group intent on wreaking havoc.

Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA (Rod Baxter, a computer whiz) pose as free-spirited programmers for hire. They drive to Los Angeles, headquarters of the hacker group, and begin the process of getting accepted by the Ordinary People group in order to uncover their plans.

Come to find out, the Ordinary People hacker group are not the real enemy. It seems the Russians have ulterior motives to eliminate the hacker group who have the ability to disrupt railway travel at a time when Russia is about to invade Ukraine.

Summary

Letty and a couple friends from other government agencies become bodyguards to the Ordinary People group while the group works on the solution to hindering Russia's plans, thus putting their lives in grave danger.

An exciting new Letty Davenport novel I highly recommend.