tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83665780290431788352024-03-13T05:51:00.386-04:00Laurie's StoriesThe ones I'm reading and the one I'm living.Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.comBlogger170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-17894633531745487462018-11-05T18:34:00.003-05:002018-11-05T18:34:49.895-05:00Using Libib Pro in My School Library<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This school year I replaced the retiring librarian at my
sons’ school library.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The catalog of
over 12,000 items and the circulation was housed on the long-defunct Winnebago
Spectrum platform on a stand-alone computer no longer connected to the
internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The computer was so old that
it still had a floppy disk drive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well,
a few weeks into the school year, the computer crashed completely, and all was
lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The former librarian had warned me
that this day was coming, so thankfully I had already chosen a new system to
use – <a href="http://www.libib.com/" target="_blank">Libib</a> (the professional version; the regular version is free!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was researching Libib, it was hard to
find much information on it by actual institutional users, but the price was
right, so I bought an annual subscription (very reasonably priced PLUS discounted for non-profits!). I’m quite happy with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I will list pros and cons to help others out there
who are trying to decide if it’s a good fit.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
INPUTTING BOOKS</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pros: Very fast and easy, if you have the item’s ISBN
number. I just use the library scanner or type in the number if there are
stickers over the barcode, which there often are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Libib also has an app, and I believe that it
allows you to use your phone to scan the barcodes, but I haven’t used it
personally.) <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most items are already
cataloged, although I do have to add a call number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can also use manual entry for cataloging,
which I had to do with our “Book Buddies,” which are kits that contain a
stuffed animal or toy and 3 related books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you are migrating data from a system, and your records include ISBNs,
you can import them as a CSV.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
have this option.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cons: The cataloging is basically crowd-sourced, so
sometimes the formatting is inconsistent, or the book description says
something like “fair condition” or “good book” instead of giving a summary.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BARCODES</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pros: The pro is that custom barcodes aren’t strictly
necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the book has been added to
your catalog, you can check it out by retrieving it by title or ISBN.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This only presents a problem if you have
multiple copies of a book with the same ISBN.)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you check an item back in, you can use the ISBN.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Printing barcodes is also easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The templates use standard Avery labels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can choose to print by date range and
sort by title or by when copies were added, and choose what information you
want to be on the label itself.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cons: The barcodes generated by Libib are QR codes, so we
had to purchase a new scanner that reads both traditional barcodes and QR
codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Libib recommends a model that is
fairly reasonable, so this wasn’t a huge con.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
CIRCULATION</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pros: The circulation mode is fast and easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can retrieve patrons by name or by patron
number.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Entering an email address allows
circulation reminders to be sent to patrons.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Cons: There is no patron field for grade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This presented a problem for me as some
teachers want a printout of what their students have checked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To work around this, I put a letter or number
preceding each student’s last name (i.e. K for Kindergarten, P3 for
three-year-old preschool, 1 for first grade).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Reports are generated in Excel, so this way I can sort students by grade
and then just print the relevant portion of the spreadsheet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I also haven’t found a way to print overdue notices.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
OVERALL</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love Libib!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
it’s a fabulous low-cost application for small libraries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The online catalog is customizable and
visually appealing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pro version even
gives you the capability to set up a self-check kiosk, which I plan to do once
all of our books are cataloged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
current solution for checkout, since so few of our items are cataloged, is to
catalog things AS they are checked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can quickly input a book and then it’s immediately available for
checkout.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, at the end of each
school day, I print out labels for the books that were added that day, and put
the labels on the books as they are returned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, anytime I’ve reached out to customer support with a
question, it’s been answered within hours.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Have you used Libib?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you considering
it for your library?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me know in the
comments!</div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-31291902489039592212018-08-16T20:36:00.002-04:002018-08-16T20:36:58.651-04:00<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38915720-a-light-so-lovely" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1520749541m/38915720.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38915720-a-light-so-lovely">A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/42153.Sarah_Arthur">Sarah Arthur</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2495269903">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
A lovely examination of the influence that one of my favorite authors has had on culture and faith. I appreciated Arthur's insights and her synthesis of the overarching themes of L'Engle's work; she managed to convey great admiration and respect for L'Engle and her legacy without resorting to idolatry. A thoughtful and thought-provoking book for any L'Engle fan.<br />
<br />
*Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-64024641256376616042017-02-16T19:35:00.000-05:002017-02-16T19:35:39.246-05:00Hello Fresh ReviewA friend gave me her discount code to try Hello Fresh for $40 off (which meant I got three 2-person meals for $20). I thought that was a pretty good deal so I tried it. The meals were delivered to my doorstep, and they were delicious! There is prep involved --washing and chopping veggies, etc. -- but all of the ingredients are pre-measured so I could feel like I was on a cooking show as I cooked. Portion sizes were generous, too -- my husband and I are not dainty eaters, but all 3 recipes were enough for us; the pasta dish even had leftovers! It was really nice to know exactly what I was making for dinner -- and that I had all the ingredients for it -- since I've been falling down on the meal planning job lately. All in all, I would not feel right routinely paying $20 for a meal that only feeds my husband and I (I am an Aldi shopper, after all), but I've noticed that Groupon often has half-off deals. And if a friend uses your discount code, you get $20 off your next box too. If you'd like to try it out with my discount code, click <a href="http://www.hellofresh.com/?c=LAURIESLA&utm_source=raf-share&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=clipboard" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
*This is my honest review; Hello Fresh has no idea who I am. :)Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-88964638652220920122016-02-10T20:01:00.005-05:002016-02-10T20:01:57.146-05:00Book Review: They Danced On (The Darlings #3)<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28073173-they-danced-on" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="They Danced on (The Darlings #3)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449536478m/28073173.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28073173-they-danced-on">They Danced On</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7469644.Carre_Armstrong_Gardner">Carre Armstrong Gardner</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1481970914">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
Judging by the epilogue, I think this may, sadly, be the final book in The Darlings Series. But what a lovely book it was, and I was happy to spend time in the company of the Darling family. The main focus in this one was the Darling matriarch, Jane, as she faces the inevitable loss of her husband, who has ALS. Some time was also devoted to Laura and her alcoholism, and to the other members of the family as well, but I still want more. <br />
<br />
*Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing an e-galley for review.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-70282231631949556072016-01-28T12:15:00.000-05:002016-01-28T12:15:14.698-05:00Book Review: You Choose<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRFqeONZ8FiO0UMTNA09joHlQeP2adg9hg2JR2jlVK3E9eOxAnvHFcFN_QwUyk8xTz354w-U1WXaOMZn7eo8W1cfo4MfnRnhpdNL-jyxflyAMGtF8hxXgDQlCZoAaiAVkevfwFbLsmhy0/s1600/0007058_you_choose_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsRFqeONZ8FiO0UMTNA09joHlQeP2adg9hg2JR2jlVK3E9eOxAnvHFcFN_QwUyk8xTz354w-U1WXaOMZn7eo8W1cfo4MfnRnhpdNL-jyxflyAMGtF8hxXgDQlCZoAaiAVkevfwFbLsmhy0/s200/0007058_you_choose_300.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
This one has become a favorite since it arrived a few weeks ago -- for both my boys, ages 5 1/2 and almost 4. Each two-page spread asks a question like "Where would you want to live?" or "How would you want to travel?" and my boys LOVE to pore over the pictures and choose. It's a great book for encouraging both speech development and vocabulary, and as an oversize hardcover it's a bargain for only $12.99. Click <a href="https://n4088.myubam.com/p/3795/you-choose" target="_blank">here</a> to read more about it or to order.Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-32116945509756914762015-11-30T20:17:00.001-05:002015-11-30T20:17:21.537-05:00BusyProbably no one in cyberspace has noticed, but I've been MIA lately...since mid-August, to be precise, when I started selling Usborne Books. It's been a whirlwind -- but a good one! I'm still working 20 hours a week at the library, so I've been fitting Usborne in to my "free time" -- if you're a mom, you know there's really no such thing. But I'm loving it, and I've really helped boost our family's income.<br />
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I just wanted to explain where I've been (I'm still here!) and what I've been doing. I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-86196610445175443392015-08-16T14:55:00.002-04:002015-08-16T14:55:24.235-04:00Usborne Books and More!<br />
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As a children's librarian at a public library, I see a LOT of books. Some are fun. Some are educational. And some are both! I recently discovered Usborne Books and hosted a home party. I was so impressed that I signed up as a consultant so I could get more free books. My boys love them. They'll be my new go-to gift for kids. Usborne is a publisher that began in England, and the books are sold in the U.S. mostly through direct sales (remember how DK books used to be sold only at home parties?). Click <a href="https://n4088.myubam.com/" target="_blank">here</a> if you want to learn more about the 2014 Children's Publisher of the Year!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-12174817968568593012015-07-22T10:48:00.002-04:002015-07-22T10:48:32.553-04:00Book Review: Anchored by Kayla Aimee<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492928-anchored" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1415424407m/23492928.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23492928-anchored">Anchored: Finding Hope in the Unexpected</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9824985.Kayla_Aimee">Kayla Aimee</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1339899338">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
This was a beautiful read that brought me some much-needed catharsis; my preemie is 3 now but there are a lot of thoughts and feelings I haven't yet processed from the traumatic birth and NICU experience. I so appreciated Kayla's honesty about her experiences and her faith struggles and when I finished the book I wished I could chat with her over a mocha. I would recommend this to preemie parents especially, but really to any parent who has ever realized how little control we have when it comes to our children's health and safety. <br />
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*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley for review.
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<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-5230553093537633952015-02-24T15:36:00.001-05:002015-02-24T15:36:56.474-05:00Author Interview with Jewell Parker Rhodes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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I've been reviewing books for <a href="http://www.slj.com/" target="_blank"><em>School Library Journal</em></a><em> </em>for several years now, and the last book I reviewed was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bayou-Magic-Jewell-Parker-Rhodes/dp/0316224847" target="_blank"><em>Bayou Magic</em> </a>by Jewell Parker Rhodes. I enjoyed it very much, and SLJ published my <a href="http://www.slj.com/2015/02/reviews/best-of/february-starred-reviews/" target="_blank">review</a> with a star. Then my editor asked me if I would like to do an interview with the author, and I was thrilled at the chance. Ms. Rhodes was lovely to work with, and if you'd like to see the interview, it's <a href="http://www.slj.com/galley-giveaways/jewell-parker-rhodess-bayou-magic-explores-fantasy-folklore-and-family-ties/#_" target="_blank">here</a>.Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-59698668627760386282015-01-27T20:56:00.001-05:002015-01-27T20:56:50.992-05:00Two Rave ReviewsI love <a href="http://www.netgalley.com/" target="_blank">NetGalley</a>. When I saw that they were offering advanced e-copies of new middle-grade novels from two of my favorite (Newbery-winning) authors, Louis Sachar and Rebecca Stead, I jumped at the chance to read them. I was not disappointed. Sachar's <em>Fuzzy Mud </em>is a page-turner about a man-made environmental disaster and personal responsibility. Stead's <em>Goodbye Stranger</em> explores the connections between friends and family and the challenges of growing up, and even tackles "sexting" in an age-appropriate way. <em>Fuzzy Mud</em> will appeal to both girls and boys; <em>Goodbye Stranger </em>will mostly appeal to girls. <br />
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For more reading suggestions, check out my book reviews on <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073?shelf=read" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>!Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-18785620679455927982014-09-16T20:39:00.000-04:002014-11-23T17:11:36.490-05:00My Favorite Sunday Slow Cooker RecipeThis is my favorite throw-in-the-slow-cooker-before-church meal because it's super easy, yummy, and is one of the rare meals to have earned the approval of my picky preschooler. (He will not eat beef in any other form.) I adapted it from this <a href="http://www.menus4moms.com/mexican-meatball-soup/" target="_blank">recipe</a> at Menus4Moms to make it even easier (frozen peppers and onions!) and a little broth-ier, and to use mostly Trader Joe's ingredients.<br />
<br />
<strong>Slow Cooker Mexican Meatball Soup, Trader Joe's edition</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
1 bag Trader Joe's Party-Size Meatballs (frozen)<br />
1/2 bag Trader Joe's Grilled Peppers and Onions blend (frozen)<br />
2 t. Trader Joe's jarred garlic<br />
1 container Trader Joe's beef broth (32 oz.)<br />
1 16-oz. jar salsa (your choice, but we like mild)<br />
1 T chili powder (or less, if you prefer less spicy)<br />
1/4 t. ground cumin<br />
1 c. Trader Joe's <span dir="auto">Orecchiette</span> (or other small pasta)<br />
<br />
Combine first seven ingredients in slow cooker. Give it a good stir. Cover and cook on low for 5-7 hours. Toss in pasta for the last hour of cooking, or cook separately and toss in right before serving. Depending on your slow cooker, you may want to add a cup or two of water towards the end.<br />
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Garnish with sour cream or plain yogurt and shredded cheese.<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-86242273267127593602014-08-20T16:31:00.000-04:002014-08-20T16:31:00.044-04:00A Brief YA Review: Like No Other<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667862-like-no-other" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Like No Other" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1404960416m/18667862.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18667862-like-no-other">Like No Other</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6561857.Una_LaMarche">Una LaMarche</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1029260155">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
<br />
What happens when two teens from very different backgrounds fall in love? Thankfully, this is no Romeo and Juliet, but it is realistic and satisfying, even if there can be no happily-ever-after.
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<br />
Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-galley for review through NetGalley.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-81313728067519447782014-08-17T17:41:00.000-04:002014-08-17T19:23:09.784-04:00My Experience with Essential OilsDisclaimer: I do not sell essential oils. I do not have any sort of financial affiliation with any of the resources I am going to mention. And I truly don't want to offend anyone I know who sells essential oils, since they are honest and lovely people, but here goes...<br />
<br />
Suddenly, essential oils are everywhere -- in my Facebook news feed, taking over blogs I follow...maybe you've noticed it too? Maybe you are a little "crunchy" like I am (using cloth diapers, trying to eat whole foods) and you're intrigued by the thought of using something all-natural to treat ailments or clean your home. Well, that was me. And my first introduction to essential oils was through the two big MLM (multi-level marketing -- think Avon or Thirty-One) companies, who shall remain nameless. When I saw the prices, I balked. With a husband who has been unemployed or under-employed for over a year now, just trying a few oils seemed like a huge investment I couldn't afford. But I thought I could at least do some research (hey, I'm a librarian) for the far-off day when I might be able to.<br />
<br />
And boy, did I learn a lot.<br />
<br />
First of all, I learned that the prices being charged by the MLM companies aren't necessarily an indication of quality, but are higher most likely because a lot of people are getting a portion of the price of every oil sold. (For more on these quality claims, see this article from <a href="http://www.granolaliving.com/2012/07/why-we-dont-offer-doterra-young-living-or-other-multi-marketing-brands-of-essential-oils/" target="_blank">Granola Living</a>.) I also learned that some of these companies were promoting irresponsible uses of oils (i.e., applying them undiluted or taking them internally without being supervised by an aromatherapist). I joined a few Facebook groups to learn more; one woman claimed she had esophageal damage from drinking water with a few drops of lemon essential oil in it for several weeks at the recommendation of her sales consultant.<br />
<br />
I also joined a group sponsored by an MLM comapny to learn more and saw firsthand that unsafe recommendations are being made. I also found out that the page is policed and censored. I had a few comments deleted. One was just a link to a different company that sells essential oils; someone asked for where to buy supplies for mixing up your own oils, since this particular MLM company doesn't sell them, and I posted a direct link to the page where these items are sold -- not the oils themselves, mind you, just the supplies, on <a href="http://www.planttherapy.com/" target="_blank">Plant Therapy</a>. Another resource I shared (not a commercial one) that was a reminder of some essential oils that aren't safe to use with children was deleted as well.<br />
<br />
Which brings me to the company I have ordered a few oils from:<a href="http://www.planttherapy.com/" target="_blank"> Plant Therapy</a>. Direct sales (i.e., much lower prices), high quality, and free shipping, as well as certified aromatherapists on staff (who answer questions in their Facebook group, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/717267978298069/" target="_blank">Plant Therapy: Safe Essential Oil Recipes</a>). The Calming the Child synergy is a miracle in a roll-on bottle for helping my little guys go to sleep at night, and I've been happy with all of the other products I've gotten from them so far -- I was able to order quite a few when they were having their Christmas in July sales. What has most impressed me so far is their new line of "KidSafe" essential oil blends, which were developed in collaboration with Robert Tisserand, who literally wrote <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Oil-Safety-Health-Professionals-/dp/0443062412/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1408309955&sr=8-1&keywords=robert+tisserand" target="_blank">the book on Essential Oils Safety</a>.<br />
<br />
My conclusion: essential oils can be helpful for a lot of things, but they're not meant to be a cure-all. The oils I've found most helpful deal with emotions, like anxiety or depression, and are very effective when inhaled. They also don't have to cost a fortune. I don't have any sort of arrangement with Plant Therapy, but I have learned from my research that there are lots of non-MLM companies that sell high-quality essential oils, and usually at much lower prices, Plant Therapy among them. So if you're interested, shop around like I did! And if you want to do more research for yourself, I'm leaving you with a list of the best online resources I found for educating yourself on essential oils, including a <a href="http://aromahead.com/courses/online/introduction-to-essential-oils" target="_blank">free online class </a>from the Aromahead Institute.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.learningabouteos.com/" target="_blank">Learning About EOs</a> (a website by a certified clinical aromatherapist)<br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/usingEOsafely/" target="_blank">Using Essential Oils Safely Facebook group</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/717267978298069/" target="_blank">Plant Therapy: Safe Essential Oil Recipe</a>s Facebook Group<br />
<a href="http://roberttisserand.com/" target="_blank">Robert Tisserand</a><br />
<a href="http://aromahead.com/courses/online/introduction-to-essential-oils" target="_blank">Aromatherapy 101</a> -- free class from Aromahead Institute<br />
<br />
And where I've purchased from:<br />
<a href="http://www.planttherapy.com/" target="_blank">Plant Therapy</a><br />
<br />
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-83312217516325597792014-07-19T11:44:00.002-04:002014-07-19T11:44:10.699-04:00Two Book Reviews: The Latest in Christian Fiction<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19108020-all-right-here" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="All Right Here (The Darlings #1)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401802106m/19108020.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19108020-all-right-here">All Right Here</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7469644.Carre_Armstrong_Gardner">Carre Armstrong Gardner</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/959783212">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
Publisher: Tyndale House<br />
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I absolutely loved spending time with the Darling family of small-twon Maine. Even the secondary characters are believable. I've seen comparisons to the TV show Parenthood, and it was like Parenthood, in all the best ways. Plus -- and I hate to say this -- it was a Christian novel that didn't read like a Christian novel. The ending made it clear that there will be more to come about the Darling family -- and I can't wait.<br />
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Thanks to the publisher for providing an egalley through NetGalley for review.
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<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18652806-here-to-stay" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Here to Stay (Where Love Begins, #2)" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1382979467m/18652806.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18652806-here-to-stay">Here to Stay</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6929010.Melissa_Tagg">Melissa Tagg</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/949541963">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
Publisher: Bethany House<br />
<br />
This was my first Melissa Tagg book, and I enjoyed it very much. I'd like to read the first in the series to get more of Blake's backstory, and I'd like to spend more time in Whisper Shores, a Stars Hollow-like town in Michigan.<br />
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My only complaint: overuse of the word "dude."<br />
<br />
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy.
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-14656368031027620382014-06-18T11:16:00.003-04:002014-06-18T11:18:27.232-04:00More on the Nightingales<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17615158-the-nightingale-sisters" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Nightingale Sisters" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1386584517m/17615158.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17615158-the-nightingale-sisters">The Nightingale Sisters</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4134665.Donna_Douglas">Donna Douglas</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/960426766">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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As soon as I finished the first title in this series (see previous review), I rushed to request the next two from NetGalley. And then I did what could only be described as binge-reading -- staying up late several nights in a row to finish them. And then I did something I very rarely do: I purchased the fourth in the series for my Nook, because it's only available as an e-book. And now I have to wait (sigh) for the next one to be published. If you're interested in England, the 1930s, the history of nursing, or just strong female characters with plenty of drama and romance in their lives, then you will enjoy this series. <br />
<br />
You're welcome.
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<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
<br />
<br />
(Thanks again to the publisher and NetGalley for the egalleys!)Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-6244612427272292072014-05-18T15:22:00.002-04:002014-05-18T15:22:34.614-04:00Book Review: The Nightingale Girls<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13536867-the-nightingale-girls" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Nightingale Girls" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333576335m/13536867.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13536867-the-nightingale-girls">The Nightingale Girls</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4134665.Donna_Douglas">Donna Douglas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/941023888">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book was billed as a good choice for fans of "Call the Midwife," and since I am one, I thought I'd give it a go. And indeed, it was quite enjoyable. Set in 1930s London, it follows several girls who start their nurses' training at Nightingale Hospital through their professional and private lives. The historical setting and medical details were interesting, and the girls themselves were fun characters to get to know. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.<br><br>*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-copy to review.
<br/><br/>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-17777087647212492952014-04-02T10:57:00.003-04:002014-04-02T10:57:15.896-04:00Book Review: Surprised by Motherhood<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18817100-surprised-by-motherhood" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Surprised by Motherhood: Everything I Never Expected about Being a Mom" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1394414013m/18817100.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18817100-surprised-by-motherhood">Surprised by Motherhood: Everything I Never Expected about Being a Mom</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7394627.Lisa_Jo_Baker">Lisa-Jo Baker</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/838172674">5 of 5 stars</a><br />
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A lovely memoir of losing and becoming a mother. As I read this book, many tears were shed and much head-nodding occurred. This is a beautiful book that I will be sharing with every new mom I know from now on. As a mom and a librarian, I have read many parenting/motherhood books, and this is among the very best of them. It's not a "how-to," but a "why" -- and don't we need more of those?<br />
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*Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-galley for review through NetGalley.
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P.S. For more from Lisa-Jo Baker, check out her <a href="http://lisajobaker.com/" target="_blank">blog</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-52100145431594896232014-03-19T15:23:00.000-04:002014-03-19T15:23:24.014-04:00Mommy Guilt vs. Mommy Shame
<strong>I shared this in my Real Moms group a couple of weeks ago and thought I would share it here, too.</strong><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I was
pregnant with my first child, I thought the choice to breastfeed was a
no-brainer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, how many times
have we heard that “breast is best?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
did everything I could to prepare<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>--
read books,</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> took a class, and stocked up on all those nursing necessities (who
says breastfeeding is free?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when
Evan came along, it just didn’t work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
got help from lactation consultants and my aunts and even La Leche League, I
tried everything from herbs to prescription drugs to a hospital grade pump, but
after six weeks, I gave up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s how
it felt, too, like giving up, like failing, like being a bad mom from the very
beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I spent those first
six weeks crying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I got pregnant
with my second, I was determined that things would be different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made an appointment with a lactation
consultant to find out what I could do to prepare to “succeed.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course all my plans were upended when
Bennett came along ten weeks early, and it was back to the pump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time, though, I saw the NICU lactation
consultant, and she diagnosed me with what amounted to a physical inability to
nurse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway, I’d spent the
first two years of Evan’s life beating myself up over something I couldn’t
help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it got me to thinking, don’t
all of us do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that what
“mommy guilt” is all about?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not too long
ago I read an article that discussed guilt vs. shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t remember what the article was about,
and I don’t even think it was a Christian article, but it really struck
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It said that guilt is feeling bad
about something we did or didn’t do. Shame is feeling bad about who we
ARE.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Guilt isn’t
necessarily a bad thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be a
nudge from the Holy Spirit, encouraging us to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when guilt turns into shame – when a
thought like “I am going to try harder to breastfeed next time” turns into the
thought “I am a bad mom who can’t even breastfeed her babies” – that’s not the
Holy Spirit, that’s Satan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shame has no
place in the life of a Christian, because who I am is a forgiven child of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the next
time you experience mommy guilt, whether it’s over losing your temper, or not
doing enough crafts with your kids,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or
letting them watch too much TV, take that guilt and use it constructively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t let Satan turn it into shame.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no
condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-76899928450137653302014-02-26T20:14:00.001-05:002014-02-26T20:14:14.486-05:00Recipe Success: Pumpkin Chocolate Chip MuffinsMy boys love Mimi's pumpkin chocolate chip muffins. She uses the Trader Joe's mix, so for muffins they're relatively healthy, but I hate how crumbly they are because, well, I'm the one who cleans up the crumbs! So I've been searching for an even healthier recipe that they will actually eat instead of whining that they want Mimi's muffins instead. And I finally found one!<br />
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I discovered a new recipe site, the Meal Makeover Moms, when consulting Google, and adapted their recipe. The original recipe can be found <a href="http://mealmakeovermoms.com/recipes/snacks-smoothies/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins/" target="_blank">here</a>. My adaptation is below. I hope your kids enjoy them just as much as mine do.<br />
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And hey, chocolate chips count as healthy in my book. I use bittersweet (60%), so, you know, antioxidants.<br />
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1 c. all-purpose (unbleached) flour<br />
1/2 c. white whole wheat flour<br />
1/4 c. ground flaxseed <br />
2 t. baking powder<br />
1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice<br />
1/4 t. salt<br />
1 c. canned pumpkin<br />
2 large eggs, beaten<br />
1/2 c. coconut sugar (can use brown sugar)<br />
1/2 c. unsweetened almond milk (can use other milk)<br />
1/3 c. grapeseed oil (I'm going to try coconut next time)<br />
1 t. vanilla extract<br />
1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips<br />
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1. Preheat the oven to 350. I used paper liners in my muffin tin.<br />
2. Whisk together the first 6 (dry) ingredients in a large bowl.<br />
3. In a separate bowl, whisk pumpkin, eggs, sugar, oil, milk, and vanilla until well-combined. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.<br />
4. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups. Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until toothpick in center comes out clean. Transfer pan to wire rack and cool 5 minutes. Remove the muffins from tins and cool on rack for another 5 minutes before serving. (I like eating them warm, when the chocolate chips are all melty and gooey.)<br />
5. Feel virtuous that your children are getting fiber, omega 3s, veggies, and, of course, antioxidants from something so delicious.Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-53834982178130668362014-02-22T15:23:00.001-05:002014-02-22T15:23:08.305-05:00Book Review: Notes from a Blue Bike<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18126822-notes-from-a-blue-bike" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1376880034m/18126822.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18126822-notes-from-a-blue-bike">Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3508553.Tsh_Oxenreider">Tsh Oxenreider</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/862268832">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I'm a casual, occasional reader of Oxenreider's blog, and the subtitle of this book was what really drew me, since I'm trying to live more "intentionally" this year, whatever that means. And there's the rub -- it may mean a million different things to a million different people, and I found it very hard to relate to Oxenreider's lifestyle, with all of her international travel with children and online ordering from farmers' markets. I appreciated what she was trying to do in encouraging and inspiring her readers to make choices congruent with their values, but unfortunately I felt like her tone came off as a little bit superior, and many of the choices she and her family made seem completely out of my family's financial reach. (She did address the issue of finances in an afterword, and I think if that had been addressed in the forward, I would have found her advice to be a lot more relatable.) Overall, the book did offer some food for thought and might be a worthwhile read.
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*Thanks to the publisher for providing an advanced e-copy for review.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-38249639037197690292014-02-19T19:56:00.000-05:002014-02-19T19:56:06.569-05:00Book Review: The Tyrant's Daughter<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910573-the-tyrant-s-daughter" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Tyrant's Daughter" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1372681789m/17910573.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17910573-the-tyrant-s-daughter">The Tyrant's Daughter</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6209666.J_C_Carleson">J.C. Carleson</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/859773618">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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An intriguing view of life in an oppressive Muslim country vs. life in America through the eyes of a teenage girl who barely escaped her home country with her life. Laila's father, the non-religious King of her nameless homeland, was assassinated by his ultra-religious brother, and what's left of her family is offered asylum in the U.S. -- but in exchange for information and political wrangling, as she soon learns. As she tries to adjust to American high school, take care of her little brother, and figure out just what her mother is doing for the C.I.A., she is also piecing together her own history, and learning the truth about her father's legacy. Laila is brave and resourceful, and her story is well worth reading.<br />
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* Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-copy for review through NetGalley.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-3476328501981837102014-02-09T22:10:00.002-05:002014-02-09T22:10:56.111-05:00Book Review: Dangerous by Shannon Hale<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8585924-dangerous" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Dangerous" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1369672030m/8585924.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8585924-dangerous">Dangerous</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49177.Shannon_Hale">Shannon Hale</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/831682218">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I love Shannon Hale and would follow her into any genre, including sci-fi...but this one wasn't her most successful. Maybe it would have worked better as a trilogy. The initial set-up was slow-going, but then the rest of the plot proceeded at breakneck speed. The love triangle was pretty weak - the (very) bad boy or the (literal) boy next door? I'm no scientist, so I can't comment on that aspect of it, but I managed suspension of disbelief just fine. Overall, it was entertaining enough, but a bit of a disappointment.<br><br>*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an e-copy for review.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-9482530991973850972014-02-03T16:16:00.001-05:002014-02-03T16:17:47.630-05:00eBook Review: Worth the Fight<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Worth the Fight - Kayse Pratt" class="attachment-shop_single wp-post-image" src="http://kaysepratt.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/WorthTheFightFinalCover2-211x300.jpg" height="200" title="Worth the Fight – Kayse Pratt" width="140" />If you're like me, you've read your fair share of Christian marriage books and might not want to invest the time in another. But Kayse Pratt's brief eBook,<a href="http://kaysepratt.com/product/worth-fight" target="_blank"> <em>Worth the Fight: Lessons Learned in a High-Maintenance Marriage</em></a>, is a great little primer on bolstering a marriage. While I found nothing earth-shattering in its chapters, I did find plenty of helpful reminders and strategies for making my marriage a priority. And as a nice little bonus, it includes some pretty Bible verse printables. You can buy your copy <a href="http://kaysepratt.com/product/worth-fight" target="_blank">here</a>. And, today only, receive 20% off with the code worththefight20.</div>
<br />Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-53014377328262389322014-01-29T10:27:00.002-05:002014-01-29T10:27:31.387-05:00VERY Brief Book Reviews<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16143347-we-were-liars" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="We Were Liars" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1384302412m/16143347.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16143347-we-were-liars">We Were Liars</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/173491.E_Lockhart">E. Lockhart</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/834415170">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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King Lear for teens. With more tragedy.<br />
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Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-galley for review through NetGalley.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571718-what-nora-knew" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="What Nora Knew" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1379892080m/17571718.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571718-what-nora-knew">What Nora Knew</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1549540.Linda_Yellin">Linda Yellin</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/834416652">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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A fun, breezy bit of chick lit for fans of Nora Ephron movies.<br />
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Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-galley for review through NetGalley.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/386073-laurie">View all my reviews</a>
Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8366578029043178835.post-23009349053759955702014-01-22T20:44:00.002-05:002014-01-22T20:44:17.666-05:00Book Review: The Here and Now <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18242896-the-here-and-now" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Here and Now" border="0" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1377012204m/18242896.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18242896-the-here-and-now">The Here and Now</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3681.Ann_Brashares">Ann Brashares</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/831707348">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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How could I resist a dystopian novel from the author of one of my favorite YA series, <em>The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants</em>? I couldn't. The only thing that disappointed me about this novel was its brevity, and I am hoping that this indicates a forthcoming sequel. The premise is intriguing: what if there are time travelers from the future sharing our present? Add in philosophical questions, cult-like oppression, and a forbidden romance, and you have <em>The Here and Now</em>. Thanks to the publisher for providing an e-galley for review through NetGalley.
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Lauriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16993110690613226691noreply@blogger.com0