Leaking Laffs Between Pampers and Depends by Barbara Johnson

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone
✥Release Date: March 19, 2000
✥Format: Hardcover (3 in 1)
✥Setting: N/A
✥Page Count: 178
✥Genre(s): Humor, Christian, Non-Fiction 
✥Date(s) Read: 10/17-10/25/18
✥Rating:  5/5

My Thoughts:

Book:

This is a book that came as a 3 in 1. There was this one, Boomerang Joy & Living Somewhere Between Estrogen and Death. I, of course am taking each book as I feel like reading them. 

Leaking Laffs was funny and it is what I needed right now. This was more of a way to make you laugh with tidbits of advice thrown in there in between. She basically just said, don't always take life so seriously. Find ways to laugh your way through life as often as possible. Well, that's what I got out of it anyway. I found myself laughing and chuckling throughout the book. I have it tabbed up...a lot!

Just some of my favorites from the book:

Man trying to meen woman: 'Hey sweetie, what's your sign?"
Woman: "Do not enter."

Did you ever stop to think...
and forget to start up again?

She who laughs last 
thinks the slowest.

My next Kitchen will have no kitchen-
Just vending machines.

Yes, of course, there are many more but those were just some short ones that gave me a good chuckle. 

When I picked this book up and just went by the cover, I thought it was a few short [fictional] stories until I sat down to look through the book and realized it was a nonfiction christian book. I got it not sure what I would think and ended up enjoying it. It took me some time to get through the book because I was focused on other books and just sat down and read this one as I felt like reading it. 

This books is sweet stories about her life and the lives of others that were sent to her. All that she has been through, she has found a way to laugh at least most of it. Something more of us need to do. Maybe the world would be a little better if we could just find ways to laugh and be happier.

There aren't many words to describe how I feel about this book. I can just say it's the lifting of my spirit that I needed. Two more 'books ' to go here but I'll take a break and read them as I feel the desire to do so. 

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This is the cover for the book by itself. I couldn't find the cover for the one I have but the image on this book is a picture used throughout the book for the squirts and squints part of the book and beginning of the chapters. There are some differences (the baby and grandma in the boat is used).

House by Frank E. Peretti, Ted Dekker

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone
✥Release Date: March 5, 2007
✥Format: Paperback
✥Setting: Alabama
✥Page Count: 372
✥Genre(s): Christian Fiction, Horror/Thriller
✥Date(s) Read: 10/16-10/19/18
✥Rating:   Book: 4.75/5   Audio: 3.75/5     Narrator(s): Kevin King

My Thoughts:

Audio:
Once I sped him up to 1.2/1.5, he got a lot better. At it's normal rate, I wasn't very fond of his narration. 


Book:
This is my second time reading this book. I really enjoyed it the first time. I guess because I didn't know what was coming. Although, I found myself getting bored throughout the book the first time. I think it was because I wasn't used to reading books like this & some male authors I tend to find not to like their writing style. Now, I am finding myself stepping outside my box and giving more men a chance and enjoying them. No, I am not bad mouthing male authors, it's just preferences. From my beginning of consistent reading, I've always migrated towards women authors. 

Anyway, I got off on a tangent there....

As I was saying, I loved it the first time but had my moments of finding it boring. Now, with the re-read, knowing what was going to happen, I was able to get through it smoother. Enjoy it in a different way. It's not a favorite as it was the first time because I knew the message in the story  that I didn't notice the first time until after I closed the book and began to think over it.

This time, the story for me was just as strong but different because I can see so much of the good vs evil going on in this world. And seeing that, even in fear: Trust Him. Follow Him. I am a very spiritual [yet, imperfect] person and I can many times just think over things and see things not just flesh war but spiritual war. I may not understand it all but I don't think I am supposed to.

This book for me is a reminder that no matter what we try to do, some things are just meant to happen. We can find ways to make things easier as we go through this life but yet, prepare ourselves for what's coming. You don't have to believe in God or demons but that doesn't make them any less real. But it is not for me to force anyone to believe or not to believe because of free will.

Why doesn't God stop the evil in this world? Because He gave us free will to do with it what we will. Why doesn't he abolish evil? Well, for most everything (if not everything) in this world, there has to be an opposite. For life, there is death. For up, there is down. For good, there must be evil, etc.

Again! Another tangent....Sorry

This was a good book that doesn't have very high ratings on Goodreads. So, after reading the summary, and deciding if it is interesting enough to pick it up from the library, used book store, kindle, etc, I would suggest you read the book first before reading the reviews. Come to your own conclusion then read the reviews.

There is a movie based off of this that at first, I didn't like and couldn't get through the first time. I finally was able to get it finished and found that I still liked the book more of course. I may try watching the movie again soon just to see if my opinion has changed any.

Overall, what do I think? In just one word? Beautiful

50% off Murder (A Good Buy Girls Mystery #1) by Josie Bell

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series: #1
✥Release Date: April 3, 2012
✥Format:  Mass Market Paperback
✥Setting: St. Stanley, VA
✥Page Count: 277 
✥Genre(s): Cozy Mystery, Romance
✥Date(s) Read: 10/11-10/17/18
✥Rating: 4/5

My Thoughts:

I liked it. It had it's cheesy moments but it was good. 

This is a book written under the Josie Belle pseudonym by the author of the Cupcake bakery mystery series (and others), Jenn McKinlay. When I found out who wrote it, that made me more excited. 

Cupcake Bakery Mystery series is my favorite by her. I did notice some similarities between this one and CBM, like the rivalry, young male character and one or two other things. 

I already own the second book so maybe I'll be able to get to it soon but we will see. This one might be on the top list too because I got some decent tips on saving money. Some  I knew, some I didn't. 

If you like cozies and haven't read this one, it's worth at least trying. Just go into it expecting to be entertained and hoping to enjoy it but not expecting much more than that. Don't get your hopes up too high. I enjoyed the book as much as I'd hoped I would have. 

The Robot King by Brian Selznick

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Stand-Alone
✥Release Date: August 24, 1995
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: N/A
✥Page Count: 80
✥Genre(s): Fiction, Children's, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
✥Date(s) Read: 10/7/18
✥Rating:  4.75/5    


My Thoughts:


A quick and easy read that was really cute and sweet book about two siblings who made a new friend.

A friend who showed them new things and places. 

Beautiful pictures as is the style of Brian Selznick. I really enjoy all of the books I have read by him so far. 

                                                      Just a couple pictures from the book:

                                                                       Book Cover:

Asking for Truffle (A Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery #1) by Dorothy St. James

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series/Trilogy: #1
✥Release Date: September 12, 2017
✥Format: Hardcover
✥Setting: Camellia Beach, South Carolina 
✥Page Count: 326
✥Genre(s): Cozy Mystery
✥Date(s) Read: 10/5-10/6/18
✥Rating:   Book:  2.75/5      Audio: 5/5         Narrator(s): Callie Beaulieu

My Thoughts:

Audio:
I liked her for this book, her voice for this book was perfect.

Book:
Some things about this book annoyed me and almost DNF'd it a few times because some of the characters were annoying. Although I understood one of them and why they reacted/thought the way they did (I tend not to be trusting of people too), I would still get annoyed. Maybe because I am on the outside looking in. It was more than that though. Sometimes, the book was just lacking something for me. I don't know what it was. I did like many of the characters though. 

It got better as it got closer to the end (about the last 4-5 chapters). I had my top 4 people I thought did it and my number one choice was right. 

It was a decent book. I will try to get to the second book, maybe the third. I want to see how certain things turn out. Now that I am familiar with the characters and her writing, we will see if I go on but it will be a while before I do and make sure that the price is a decent price first. 

Books in trilogy: 
(or series, not sure how many books there will be)
Book #1: Asking For Truffle
Book #2: Playing With Bonbon Fire
Book #3:  In Cold Chocolate


(Recipes in back of book)

Warbreaker (Warbreaker #1) by Brandon Sanderson

About This Book:
Goodreads Summary
✥Series:  #1 
✥Release Date: April 2010
✥Format: Mass Market Paperback
✥Setting: Idris; Hallandrin
✥Page Count: 676
✥Genre(s): Epic/High Fantasy. Adult, Adventure, Romance (slight)
✥Date(s) Read: 9/10-10/3/18
✥Rating:   Book:  4.5/5      Audio:  5/5        Narrator(s): Alyssa Bresnahan

My Thoughts:

Audio:
I liked her voice. She made it so much easier for me to get through it. Perfect for this book (in my personal opinion). 

Book:
Took me a while to read/listen to this one because it's so dense and of course, in what seems to be Brandon Sanderson's thing, a big book! I also did a couple readathons that this book did not fit into and/or it's so dense, I wouldn't have been able to get any other book done trying to focus on this one. I tended to listen to maybe a chapter at a time (up to 30 minutes, maybe a bit more, per chapter) or up to an hour or two. This audio book is almost 25 hours long. I can't speed it up on the scribd app like I can on the computer when using scribd there.

This is my first book by Sanderson, I found it while searching a used book store near me. I was hoping to find the first book in the Mistborn Series but of course, that is hard to find but the day I went to see if I could find anything by him, I found this one and grabbed it. I wasn't sure if I would read it but I wanted to have it in my possession just in case. I tried to read it on my own, liked it, but knew I wouldn't finish it without an audio book. It took some times but I finally found it on scribd's app and started listening to it within a couple months of finding it. 

But, I digress....

What did I think?

I can see why Sanderson is so popular among so many. He has a way of telling a story. He makes you want to continue to read/listen to the book. To find out what's going to happen. At least with this one book that I have. I still want to go on to the Mistborn series, even more so now, in hopes I will like it even half as much as I like this one! This time though, I will know how dense his books are, not just long. 

I enjoyed all the characters, even when you don't like them! Even the 'side' characters I liked a lot. I won't go into each individual ones because anything I say could possibly become a spoiler. But I will talk about the more "main" characters. There are quite a few main other than the ones I will mention but these are the ones that had the most time and that I can say a little more about. This is a true 'coming of age' type of story. Some things were kind of predictable but it was just learning the "how" of it all. Maybe the book could've been about 45-100 pages shorter...maybe...but it was still really good. Glad I have Sanderson a chance. Any books I go for after this, I have an idea on what to expect and can adjust accordingly. 

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Siri: I liked her from the beginning. He rebelliousness, her sarcasm, her heart.  I loved how she was at least willing to learn and figure things out. Even through her beliefs, she still questioned some things. 

Susebron: As the story went on, the more we got to know him, the more I began to like him.

Vivena: (Siri's sister) I liked her well enough but she isn't my favorite of the two sisters. There were some things she said and did I wasn't always find of but I'm the end, I began to understand her way of thinking to a degree.

Lightsong: I loved him from the moment he showed up in the story. I found him to be funny and sweet at times. 

Vasher: I liked him from pretty much the beginning as well. There was a situation that made me question that but I didn't want to stop liking him and thankfully, I didn't have to stop!

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I do love this cover (and this is the one I have)....but.......

I would love to find THIS cover (in good/great condition of course).....