Leigh's Views

  When I first was asked to review the book 'Remember the Butterfly', I was intrigued. A story about a modern adoption seemed right up my alley. I was adopted so have some knowledge on the subject. However, this book I was never quite able to get into. Both mothers - adoptive and birth - I couldn't sympathize with. To the point, that by the end of the book, I was hoping the child would end up with another family altogether. Jillian, the adoptive mother, moved from one disaster to other. All the while, she was just an overly whiny mess. Keeley, the birth mother, also deals with one too many devasting things in her life. But it just felt like she gave up and ended up a pushover.  The premise of the book had so much potential that just, for me, never was fulfilled. While I'm sure there are others out there who may love this book, it wasn't for me.

  Now I've been doing a lot of shows and events. Thus, I hear about a lot of interesting products and services from various vendors during them. And at one show recently, one woman was singing the praises of a - wait for it - lettuce knife. Yup, that's right. She was telling everyone who walked by her booth about how wonderful this knife was. Because ever since she started using this modern marvel, her lettuce now lasts for two whole weeks in her fridge! Crisp, fresh, green lettuce, ready for her to eat. Okay, I don't know about anyone else. However, all I could think was "What was she doing to her lettuce before she got this knife?!"   Let's face it, my lettuce lasts at least two weeks in the fridge and I don't use anything unusual. Nope, sorry, I've never plunked down good money for a special knife that cuts only lettuce. And I've never noticed my lettuce getting overly brown or disgusting. Yet, how many times in life have you known someone to do...

Okay, I'll be the first to admit, history and I have never been friends. Sure, I've read a ton of books with historical elements. Plus, I took all of those history classes in school. However, I tended to roll my eyes through most of it, and goodness me, I never did learn all of those lists of dates. Thus, when I was given a copy of this book to read, I almost told the author 'sorry, no can do.' Because let's face it - a book designed to expand on a story from the Bible didn't seem like my kind of thing.  Yet, I did find parts of this interesting. It would've been so much more so if the author had gone into so much more detail - there was just too much 'telling'. He really didn't go far enough into setting the scene so to speak. I felt myself wanting to be pulled into this time of history, be immersed in the culture but, alas, that never seemed to quite happen.  Still and all, I've got to hand it to the author for the amount of research he mus...

A very sweet reader sent me a link to this video -  Relate  - click on it if you want to hear it. Anyway, she said my latest book and this song by For King and Country had such similar themes she was wondering if I used it for inspiration. Actually, I hadn't heard the song until she sent me the link. Plus, that song was released after I wrote the book and was in the final editing stage. But her question does raise an interesting point. Since all of my books have a 'playlist' of sorts, do I listen to music as I write? Often, I do have music playing. Other times, the songs are all in my mind - popping in to fit a scene I'm working on. I find music changes my mood - playing sad songs makes me want to cry and playing happy tunes makes me want to get up and dance. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Music has such power, guess that's why they say music soothes the savage beast. So dust off your old favorites, sing loud, dance until you drop. I was doing this earlier t...

Now, right upfront, I must admit these aren't the typical books kids read these days. There's nothing suggestive, profane, or 'adult' about these stories. Quite the opposite in fact. All three books in the series are faith-based, simple, and positive. There are moral lessons for both young and the young at heart. As I read the first book, Journey to the Glass Hill, I was almost wishing I had a grandkid or two I could read the story to. It's that kind of book - take your time and savor. The others are in the same vein. Will doing what is right win? Will the family be healed? So many little twists and turns as you go along. What's most intriguing about these books is the fact that D. Marie based them on a very short Norwegian folktale. And who doesn't love a good folktale?

 Okay guys, I decided to try something new. Every once in a while, I'm going to review a book I've read and hopefully post a few tidbits about the author as well. First, let me start by saying, that while I do watch science fiction I've never read any. Odd, I know. However, I found this book interesting. Because it was short, Caleb skimmed a few things I'd wished he'd gone into details about. My favorite parts were the fight scenes. The details provided were excellent and drew me right into the action.  Now to tell you a bit about the book - From my take, it seems to be the classic underdog situation. We've got a kid fresh off the boat (literally - a fishing boat) who's taken off to fight a war. Matthew has a bit of a chip on his shoulder, angry at the world and ready to take on any and all comers. Needless to say, this attitude gets him in trouble. As if he didn't have enough problems already with the creatures who've invaded the plant out to destro...

 A few weeks ago, I got an email from a local theater. A little note letting me know that on Tuesdays tickets, popcorn and drinks were cheaper. Okay, I'll bite and be brave - go to the movie theater for the first time in 18 months. Opening the app, I looked at what movies were available and bought a ticket to 'Free guy'. There I was on that Tuesday, standing in an empty parking lot wondering if it was some kind of joke. The ticket window didn't even exist anymore. Taking a huge breath, I decided to try the door. To my surprise, it opened to the dim lobby. One lone person stood behind the concession stand, she was playing with her phone and ignoring me. I spotted a row of machines off to one side, you know the ones - like they have at airports to get your tickets. I walk over and yup, that's how you check-in at the theater now. Next, I head over to the lone employee to get popcorn. I don't drink soda, thus I had water in my purse. She gets the popcorn for me, ask...