Sarai Henderson's Blog, page 223

#WeeklyMenu Week 210

It's Monday and the second day of my vacation. This is the one week out of the year that I look forward too. 
This Saturday will be my 11th wedding anniversary. We will be spending it at the beach with our boys. 
I don't know if I will be online much the next week, but feel free to leave me messages.
This weeks menu is going to be a little different, with eating out and eating with in-laws. I hope you can forgive me, but I still need to plan accordingly around our vacation.
Enjoy your week!
Monday- Chicken Bruschetta
Tuesday- Sloppy Joe's
Wednesday- Chicken and Gravy
Thursday- Moe's Cannon Beach
Friday- Eat with in-laws
Saturday- Spaghetti 
Sunday
- Tuna Sandwiches

Weekly Confessions #3

I'm am happy to announce that it finally rained. You have no idea how ecstatic I am about this. Oregon it s wet, green, lovely state and lately its been dry, brown and on fire. It hasn't rained in months and I'm getting a little tired of it. Its just not Oregon with out an entire summer of precipitation. I might be the only one who thinks this way, but when it rains there is more room for reading.  I know its been two weeks since I last posted my confessions, but life is a strange thing and you can't always trust it. There are many books that I read in the last two weeks though, like Heir of Fire by Sarah J. Maas. I'm trying to catch up on the series before the new book is released in September, but its going to be a stretch. Some other books I reviewed have been Autonomous, AARU, The Divinity Bureau, Rowan Wood Legends, The Dreadful Tale of Prosper Redding and Before I let go. Knocked a few books off my TBR pile. Before the fall and Anansi Boys. Didn't like either one of them. There were two I did like and they were Hallow City and The Last Song. Two great stories about two totally different things.  
Its been a very productive two weeks and I hope to knock out this months reviews soon so I can get back to my TBR pile.
I have to confess, I totally meant to blog last weekend, but with all the heat and family obligations, I just didn't feel like it. I haven't been keeping up on my reviews and my reading has slowed. I guess slowed is relative though.

I wanted to introduce to you Sysco the cat, my oldest son. We've had him for almost 12 years now this October. He comes and goes and right now he has decided we are cool to live with.

After we moved into our new house to years ago, Sysco decided that he liked the neighbors better because they didn't have three rambunctious boys who made a lot of noise. They, of course, deemed him as the most well behaved feral cat they had ever seen. Turns out, they didn't really like him as much as they thought they did and kicked him out. He came back and we've been loving on him ever since. Good think we got him chipped too. No one is stealing my cat without my permission.

I took the boys out garage saling yesterday and we had a blast. One of my favorite sales that we visit every year, they give you a paper bag and tell you that its only two bucks if you can fit it in the bag. AWESOME! I bought so much crap that I would have never touched, just because all I spent was $2.

Started a new book this week. Its going to be called Orange and Blue. Its a non-fiction about life, friendship, love and what's next. I used to have a huge list of funny little stories from my childhood that I wrote down when ever I thought of one, but now I can't find it. Hopefully I can remember some of the funny things for the book. This one might take me a while.

Its been so beautiful outside the last few weeks that I've been able to sit out the patio at work and write my entire lunch break. This week, I was working on My sci-fi / dystopian novel that is up to 40k words. Half way there. There is a whole section on bacon and the use of bacon. It got me thinking about this song.

Bacon - Nick Jonas
There is just something about a song about "bacon" that puts me in the mood to write. 
The Hunter Saga is doing well. Hunter was up to #113 when I looked a few days ago. I think its dropped a little since then, but its only $.99 right now, so don't miss out on the discount. After you read Hunter, you have to read Seeker. 
I haven't started writing the third book in the series yet, but it will come. There are current projects that need to be completed first.

I talked about the two books that I picked from my TBR pile to read.Tried to convince you to watch Blind Dating with Chris Pine in it.Reviewed Rowan Wood Legend thanks to my friends at NetgalleyLearned about I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter.Told you about the Woodlands Box set with the really cool covers.And gave you another week of yummy meals.
Now that I have confessed everything to you, its time for my vacation. I might not be doing a lot of blogging this week, although I do have several posts scheduled to keep you busy. We have lots of fun scheduled. We are going to visit the set of Everything Sucks, a Netflix series being shot here in my home town of Oregon City. The beach is calling my name and lots of family time.

My Book of the Month Picks for August

I picked a weird combination this month. The last song by Nicholas Sparks and Before the Fall by Noah Hawley. The only thing they have in common is the ocean and the contemporary style of writing.

I started with Before the Fall and I was super into it at the beginning when the author was telling about the plane crash and how the old man swam to shore with a four year old in his arms. After that I was board. Three quarters of the book explained what happened after they were saved. It wasn't really my cup of tea.

Everyone has heard of Nicholas Sparks and to tell you the truth, I can't usually stand any movie that has his name on it. I hated the notebook, a walk to remember was ok. Dear John, ehh. I did watch the last song, it was ok, but this book was really good. I wish I hadn't know how the book would end because I would have loved to have the surprise.

I wouldn't recommend Before the fall because it was not my cup of tea, but if you want a touching summer read, go for Nicholas Sparks.

#MovieReview | Blind Dating

Title: Blind DatingGenre: Romantic ComedyRelease Date: 2006Rating: PG-13Cast:  Chris Pine, Anjali Jay, Eddie Kaye Thomas

Summary from IMDB: A blind young man (Pine) thinks he finds love with an Indian woman (Jay), though their relationship is fraught with cultural differences.
IMDB Trailer

Review: I've been working through my Chris Pine movie list and this one came up. It was hilarious. I'm usually skeptical about movies done early on in an actors carrier, just because they are new to acting and you can tell. This movie was really well done. 
Chris Pine plays a blind guy who has never been with a woman. His brother decides to set him up on all these dates and they don't turn out so well. It was a great concept and I loved it.
I'm going to give this movie five stars. It was that awesome.

#BookReview | Rowan Wood Legends by Olivia Wildenstein

Title: Rowan Wood LegendsBy: Olivia WildensteinGenre: Urban FantasyPages: Release Date: August 14th, 2017Publisher: CreateSpaceAudience: Young Adult
Summary from Goodreads: SOME LEGENDS ARE BETTER LEFT UNTOLD.
I wasn’t the sort of girl who believed in fairytales, let alone tales about faeries. But that changed the day Faeries came to my small town and Hunters rose from their graves. 

On that fateful day, I received a book, a peculiar collection of myths and legends. Turns out it was so much more than stories. And just as I was on the verge of unlocking its secrets, it was stolen from me by someone I called a friend. 

Now, I don’t know whom I can turn to, whom I can trust. All I know is that there are two sides, and I am straddling the great divide because I am both Faerie and Hunter. And although I swore I would never choose, I am slowly falling for one of those sides…

Fans of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series will adore Wildenstein's Lost Clan series.
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Review: The whole concept for this book was great. I really enjoyed how the world came to life around me and the fantasy elements that were intertwined. The characters seemed to interact well with each other, and made me feel attached. The one thing that seemed to wear on me was how all over the place I felt the story was. There wasn't one story line I could follow. They all seemed to run together and became boring to me in parts. Even though I was having trouble following the story, I still really enjoyed the book. 

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter #BlogTour #Giveaway @chapterxchapter @tecarter7

 
Hello Readers!
We are so excited to introduce you to a new title coming February 2018 from Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan! I Stop Somwhere by T.E. Carter is described as THE LOVELY BONES meets ALL THE RAGE.  Got your attention yet?  

Here's what readers have to say:  “an unputdownable mystery. Don't miss it.”  - Hayley Chewins – Author “Visceral with both rage and tenderness and impossible to put down.” – Amelinda – Goodreads Reviewer “unapologetic and gorgeous and raw” – Rachel Solomon – Author “powerful and profound and makes you think” – Amanda Searcy - Author   

Pre-order your copy today, and don't miss out on this upcoming title from Macmillan!Amazon | B&N | BAM | Indies | Powell’s | Macmillan  
Feed your curiosity and check out the excerpt below.Be sure to enter the giveaway found at the end of the post! 
 

THE LOVELY BONES meets ALL THE RAGE in a searing, heartbreaking contemporary story of a lost teenager, and the town she leaves behind.Ellie Frias disappeared long before she vanished.Tormented throughout middle school, Ellie begins her freshman year with a new look: she doesn’t need to be popular; she just needs to blend in with the wallpaper.But then the unthinkable happens and Ellie is trapped after a brutal assault. She wasn't the first victim and now she watches it happen again and again. She tries to hold on to her happier memories in order to get past the cold days, waiting for someone to find her.The problem is, no one searches for a girl they never noticed in the first place.TE Carter’s stirring and visceral debut not only discusses and dismantles rape culture but also makes you slow down and think about what it is to be human.

I Stop Somewhere by T.E. Carter Publication Date: February 27, 2017 Publisher: Feiwel & Friends 
Nobody noticed me as I cut through the room. I made my way outside, into the cold. Spring was playing games with us. Weeks earlier, it had snuck in overnight, erasing our memory of winter in a matter of hours. When we’d gone to bed, winter had lingered in the snowbanks and in the way the trees still hunched over from the weight of it. And then suddenly, spring. We woke to birds singing, birds who appeared to have been shipped overnight on a secret train, and we remembered music.But now, winter was trying to force a comeback. Everyone outside stood looking at the pool, wondering what happened. I was shivering, wearing a skirt and thin shirt I’d borrowed from Kate when spring was still a promise.I saw him from the periphery. From the in-between where the people inside faded into the background, but the people outside were only figures in the night. It made sense; I was a periphery girl.“Hey,” I said to his back.When he turned to look at me, I swear the light from the porch surrounded him. But I think I made that up. I think I want to remember him that way. I want to believe there was something that made him special. I want to believe that loneliness doesn’t just mess with our hearts.“Ellie! You came,” Caleb said.“I said I would.”“I know. I wasn’t sure, though. I worried. You’re late.”I’d walked to the party, after telling my dad I was going to a friend’s. He wouldn’t have stopped me from going to Gina Lynn’s. I didn’t have other friends, so it wouldn’t have made a difference if I’d said her name. But, for some reason, I lied. I lied and I don’t know why I did.“Yeah, well, I was doing things.”He laughed. “Mysterious things. Of course. I’d expect nothing less from my Elusive Ellie.”My. I heard it. The claim he laid on me. I smiled at the word.He moved closer and I stepped back. It was automatic. Since earlier in the week, by my locker, I hadn’t stopped thinking about the possibility. But now that he was close again, I was scared. I was afraid of the way I knew I’d hurt if he waited months to talk to me again. I didn’t want to fall for a guy just because he’d smiled at me and said my name a few times. I was afraid of what would happen if there was more to it than that, but I was also afraid of how I’d feel if there wasn’t.“I don’t think I’m supposed to be here,” I said.I’d always imagined being wanted. Of someone loving me. Choosing me. But here was this boy and if he kissed me, I knew I’d always worry about going back to not being wanted. 

TE Carter was born in New England and has lived in New England for pretty much her entire life. Throughout her career, she’s done a lot of things, although her passion has always been writing. When she’s not writing, she can generally be found reading classic literature, obsessing over Game of Thrones (she’s one hundred percent Team Lannister), playing Xbox, organizing her comic collection, or binge watching baking competitions. She continues to live in New England with her husband and their two cats.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads 
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The Woodlands by Lauren Nicolle Taylor @LaurenNicolleT

The Woodlands Series Box Set
Lauren Nicolle Taylor
Published by: Clean Teen Publishing
Publication date: August 7th 2017
Genres: Dystopian, Romance, Young Adult

Do you dare enter the Woodlands?
As the last livable spot on Earth, it’s the only home Rosa and Joseph have ever known. But now they need to escape, or Rosa will be trapped forever in a horrific government program. A dystopian page-turner with over 750 five-star ratings on Goodreads. The Woodlands Series is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth, and The Jewel Series by Amy Ewing. Readers can purchase this boxed set at a significant discount over the cost to purchase each novel individually. This is a complete series boxed set.
The Woodlands is an Award-Winning Finalist in the “Fiction: Young Adult” category of the USA Best Book Awards, as well as a Semifinalist in The Kindle Book Awards by the Kindle Book Review.
“Lauren Taylor’s writing is powerfully descriptive; she is a master of words and similes.” – Author Erica Kiefer
“It seems so rare these days to find a dystopian with an original vein in it. The Woodlands Succeeds.” -Author Pauline Creeden
“I went into this story with my own ideas, but they were obliterated by what I found instead. I was so happy to be wrong because this story touched my heart deeply in a way that I never expected.” – Reviewer Amber Douglas Mcallister
“This book was fantastic! Spectacular! It had everything I look for in a book: Action, Adventure, and even romance!” – Reviewer Jocelyn Sanchez

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo—EXCERPT:The helicopters were stationed at the rim of Ring One, just inside the low, sandy-colored wall that surrounded the center podium. They were waiting, crouching like black angels ready to lift us from this place, this hell, into an unknown world. A Guardian in black uniform with gold trim walked to the front of the choppers and signaled for us to come forward. Another one threw the bags in the cargo hold as he read from his list. Three girls and eight boys. Joseph’s name was not on the list. I felt a flood of relief that was washed away by panic. I was barely holding myself together as it was, seeing him was liable to make me fall to pieces. But he was supposed to be here.
Paulo’s hand was on my back, pushing me towards the helicopter like I was an uncooperative apple on the conveyor belt. I was trying so hard to muster up some courage. Today I was leaving the only home I had ever known. I would never see my mother again. I felt the anxiety rising, the crushing pain of the separation I was about to suffer. Suddenly the grey-washed town didn’t look so horrible. It was home after all, I guess. I told myself it was fear that was making me feel this way. It didn’t help.
My mother, who had been quietly following us around like a dazed puppy, pulled me to her in a tight embrace. She whispered, “Sorry,” in my ear before stepping back, fists clenched, showing the appropriate restraint. Some other mothers were crying and holding their children as the Guardian wrenched them away and led them onto the aircraft.
My mother’s face was my own, the way she moved mirrored my own movements and mannerisms, but that’s where the similarities ended. Although raised by this woman, I was nothing like her. For the first time, I saw things from her perspective. Getting into trouble all the time, never showing Paulo anything other than contempt. I must have been such a frustration to her.
They called my name. Paulo put his hands firmly on my shoulders, holding me in my place. His intense stare was impossible to look away from. “Don’t shame your family,” he spat at me. And with that, he made it easy to leave. I could feel the blades starting to move, my hair whipping around my face. I stripped away the fear and anxiety, leaving a girl that was fierce, empowered by his hatred.
“Don’t worry, Paulo, I’ll stir it up, make a little noise!” I shouted through the wind. The Guardian that let me sign up was watching me, probably regretting his decision. My mother was standing rigidly, her handmade skirt billowing as the air churned around her, her hand outstretched, pleading. I could see it in her eyes—please Rosa, don’t cause more trouble. She couldn’t stop me, no one ever could. Paulo was already walking away, his back to me. Behind my mother stood a man, one blue eye, one brown, smiling. He lifted his hand to wave. I raised my hand, confused. The chopper lurched awkwardly and I was knocked back into the cargo hold.
“Sit down!” the Guardian snapped at me. I quickly found a spot and strapped myself in. The others were staring at me, eyes wide. The Guardian tapped the pilot on the shoulder. “Wait, there’s one more.”
He bounded in, bag in hand, and casually threw it on the pile and scanned the seats. There was plenty of room on the other side but he squeezed his bulky form between me and the boy I was sitting next to.
Suddenly we were in the air. When the Guardian wasn’t looking, Joseph slipped his hand over mine. Warmth calmed the agitation I felt, like pouring gold over lead, glowing. We stayed that way the entire ride. Eyes forward. Impossibly trying to anticipate what may lie ahead.

Author Bio:
Lauren Nicolle Taylor lives in the lush Adelaide Hills. The daughter of a Malaysian nuclear physicist and an Australian scientist, she was expected to follow a science career path, attending Adelaide University and completing a Health Science degree with Honours in obstetrics and gynaecology.
She then worked in health research for a short time before having her first child. Due to their extensive health issues, Lauren spent her twenties as a full-time mother/carer to her three children. When her family life settled down, she turned to writing.
She is a 2014 Kindle Book Awards Semi-finalist and a USA Best Book Awards Finalist.
Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

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#WeeklyMenu Week 209

It has been a long extremely hot week. Here in Oregon, we reached a sweltering 106 degrees and I about melted. Good thing the ac in my office at work is set to arctic. I'd rather put on a sweater and bundle in a blanket (which I did) than have to be dressed professionally and melt on the inside a little bit at a time. We just have to make it through next week and then... Vacation!!!
This year, like every year, we are headed to Cannon Beach, Oregon to spend four splendid days of sun, sand and rest. I haven't updated my yearly Cannon Beach post, but I'm sure things have changed. I'm excited to go.
I'm going to skip the writing update this week and talk about the movie pictured today. If you've been keeping up on my posts you will know how I feel about it, but if not, here it is. I'm not a fan of space movies, but yet I keep watching them. Its like a train wreck, so terrible but I cant stop watching. 
I tried to keep this weeks menu light because of the hot weather, but that's really hard to do. I'm going to attempt to make salmon, even though I don't eat it and we are having friends over on Tuesday for a rousing game of Cards Against Humanity. Check back next week for another menu. Enjoy!
Monday- Avocado Tuna Melt
Tuesday- Cheese Burgers and Fries
Wednesday- Steak Burrito Bowls
Thursday- Grilled Chicken Bruschetta
Friday- Grilled Lime Salmon
Saturday- Taco Salad
Sunday
- Tuna Sandwiches

Catching up with Sarah J. Maas - my life with books

I've fallen behind a lot with reading great books over the years. As a mother holding down a full time job and trying to find time to write my own novels, it takes a toll after a while. When do I pick up a book and dive into the pages? When do I get to relax with a cup of coffee and a good read? I start my day at five and am exhausted and asleep by eight. Books were not an option.

Last year I received a promotion at work where I get to be in the back office and not out on the floor with our members. This has given me the great opportunity to listen to audio books while I work. That's eight hours a day five days a week (sometimes more) of wonderful reading.

Now that I have the means, I get to mush through my TRB pile and read those back log books I've been watching every one else rave about for years. A new series for me the last few months is Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. I'm completely in love with the world and the characters. I just finished book three and am ready to continue the series in book four.

I'd like to say this to all the mom's out there who spend all their time and energy on their family and feel run down and needing a break. Find time for yourself. Listen to an audio book while you clean the kitchen, or put in a book on CD on that long drive to work. Use that time to escape from reality for a while.

Your local library is an awesome source for literature. Lots of libraries now have digital ebook and audiobook downloads. You can put them right on your phone with the Overdrive app that is free. Don't be like the old me and let wonders pass you by.

How do you read? Do you listen to audiobooks? Connect with me in the comments below.

#BookReview | Autonomous by Annalee Newitz

Title: AutonomousBy: Annalee NewitzGenre: Sci-FiPages: 304Release Date: September 19th, 2017Publisher: Tor BooksAudience: Adult
Summary from Goodreads: Autonomous features a rakish female pharmaceutical pirate named Jack who traverses the world in her own submarine. A notorious anti-patent scientist who has styled herself as a Robin Hood heroine fighting to bring cheap drugs to the poor, Jack’s latest drug is leaving a trail of lethal overdoses across what used to be North America—a drug that compels people to become addicted to their work.
On Jack’s trail are an unlikely pair: an emotionally shut-down military agent and his partner, Paladin, a young military robot, who fall in love against all expectations. Autonomous alternates between the activities of Jack and her co-conspirators, and Joe and Paladin, as they all race to stop a bizarre drug epidemic that is tearing apart lives, causing trains to crash, and flooding New York City.
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Review: I was immediately drawn to this book by the promise of epic robot battles and mysterious destruction. The book starts off throwing you right into the action. The Sci-fi jargon is heavy, but perfect for this kind of book. Even though I only got a peak from the few chapters I received from Netgalley, I can't wait to pick up the book and finish it.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.