Book ~ "Unravelled" (2007) Robyn Harding

From Goodreads ~ Beth wasn’t sure that joining a knitting circle was going to fill the void created when she left her sweet but commitment-phobic boyfriend, Colin, and moved in with her frumpy and judgmental roommate but it was worth a try. 

Armed with a bottle of Merlot and a positive attitude, she attended the first meeting of the stitch ’n bitch club. In attendance were Sophie, a young mom grappling with a toddler and a passion-deficit marriage; Nicola, an eerily sweet and demure bride-to-be; and Martin, a charming magazine editor who just had to be gay - or was he?

Beth is in her early/mid thirties and had been living with Colin for four years. She assumed they'd be married and have their first child by the time she was 35. When she discovered Colin liked the way things were, she moved out.

Angie, her friend, starts a stitch 'n bitch club and invites Beth. Also in the group are Sophie, Nicola and Martin. Beth is a freelance writer who occasionally works for Martin, who they assume is gay. In the meantime, Beth starts dating Jim, an engineer she had interviewed. Because he is older, he seems to be everything Colin isn't and Beth starts to see a future with him.

I was looking for something light and this seemed to fit the bill. Plus I'm a knitter. It started off fairly light but then things started getting went off in a few unbelievable directions. This story is written in first person perspective in Beth's voice. I didn't find anyone all that likeable. Beth and her friends were supposed to be in their thirties but acted like they were in their teens or early twenties, so immature. I figured there was a twist coming up. And there were a couple ... I saw one coming and the other one was farfetched. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Book ~ "Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate" (2007) Kyra Davis

From Goodreads ~ Sophie Katz's relationship with the irresistible and occasionally insufferable P.I. Anatoly Darinsky is on the fritz when a friend recruits Sophie's investigation skills to decode her possibly two-timing husband's strange behavior. When Sophie shows up in a short red cocktail dress and her friend's hubby winds up dead, the loveable would-be sleuth can't help but take on the job.

Suddenly plunged into a crazy world of campaign mudslinging, dirt-digging and cover-ups, Sophie begins to uncover some pretty dirty secrets involving a conservative congressional hopeful's involvement in the Furry community, a group of people who dress up in mascot-size stuffed animal costumes. Sex and politics, wouldn't you know?

Way in over her head as usual, Sophie reluctantly or not-so-reluctantly enlists the help of her two-time sidekick and ex-Anatoly. Together they set out to determine who killed Eugene and why, and in the process can't resist falling for each other again?

Sophie Katz is a mystery writer. Melanie, her friend and former mentor, suspects her husband, Eugene, is having an affair so asks Sophie to put the moves on him at a bar to see if he bites. He doesn't and they end up having a nice chat. Minutes after they leave the bar, he is shot and killed. Melanie knows that Sophie's ex-boyfriend, Anatoly, is a PI and wants to hire him to investigate. Sophie is feeling bitter about their recent break-up so tells Melanie he is too busy and offers to check things out. Eventually Melanie hires Anatoly and Sophie is forced to work with him to stay involved. 

I wasn't crazy about this one. I'm not into politics and because Eugene worked for a congressional candidate, there was a lot of talk of American politics, which was boring. It was a convoluted story that ended up involving furries and fluffies. When the whodunnit was revealed, my thought was "HUH?!" ... I wasn't buying it. Sophie's obsession with Anatoly was annoying and she stayed on investigating Eugene's death primarily so Anatoly couldn't which was selfish and juvenile of her considering it's what he does for a living. 

This is the third in the Sophie Katz Murder Mystery Series (there are seven books in the series and I read the first two in the last week). It is written in first person perspective in Sophie's voice. It was published in 2007 so is a bit dated ... for example, Kanye West was still relevant and Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins are still together. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

Book ~ "The Kept Man" (2007) Jami Attenberg

From Goodreads ~ Jarvis Miller's artist husband has been in a coma for six years. And so, Jarvis has spent these years suspended between hope and grief, paralyzed with longing for a life and a marriage that are slipping away. 

But then, unexpectedly, Jarvis makes her first new friends in years when she meets the Kept Man, three men whose lifestyles are funded by their successful wives, who gather once a week on laundry day. With their help, she reawakens to the city beyond her Brooklyn apartment, past the pitying eyes of her husband's art dealer and his irresponsible best friend as her future begins to take on the irresistible tingles of possibility for the first time in almost a decade. 

When a shocking discovery casts a different light on her idealized marriage, she's propelled even further down a path that she would never have dared to imagine just months before. 

Jarvis is married to Martin, who is an artist. He fell off a ladder six years ago and has been in a coma on life support ever since. Jarvis visits Martin every Wednesday and sells off his paintings when she needs money but has basically stopped living. When her washing machine breaks down, she heads to the laundromat. There she meets three men who call themselves the Kept Man Club (their wives are the breadwinners) and meet there every Tuesday. Because she hasn't got much else going on in her life, Jarvis starts to join them. When Jarvis discovers Martin's secret, it changes her outlook on her life.

I've read a couple books by this author and I wasn't crazy about it. It's a dreary story and the writing reflects this. There are no likeable characters and it's written in first person perspective in Jarvis' voice. As a head's up, there is swearing and adult activity.

It did prompt a discussion between Gord and I as to how long we would keep each other on life support with no hope of recovery if something ever happened. We both agreed that six years was too long and maybe a couple of months was more reasonable.

Book ~ "Scout" (2007) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love dogs and couldn't be happier to finally have Buddy - their very own puppy. But when Scout, an adorable German shepherd puppy, suddenly has no one to adopt him, Lizzie and Charles are determined to take him in and find him the perfect home. 

Scout has a special talent for finding missing things - can the Petersons find him a home that makes the most of his skills?

Lizzie and her younger brother, Charles, are in elementary school. They have a puppy named Buddy plus foster dogs and help them find homes.

Their father is a fireman and Meg, one of his colleagues, does search and rescue with her German shepherd, Casey. Meg has been called to picked up a German shepherd puppy named Scout and deliver her to her new adoptive family. Unfortunately the family can't take her after all. Lizzie and Charles' family foster Scout until a new family can be found and while they do, they start training her to become a search and rescue dog like Casey and she seems like a natural!

 

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from the dogs' points of view. It is the seventh in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Patches" (2007) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They have a puppy of their own named Buddy but they also foster dogs that need help finding new homes.

Charles and his friend, Sammy, are on their way home from school one day when they hear a puppy crying. His name is Patches and he's tied up in a garage all by himself. His owners seem to care ABOUT Patches but they don't know how to care FOR him. And it's up to Charles and Lizzie to show them!

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. They recently got a dog named Buddy and still foster dogs and help them find a home.

Charles and his friend, Sammy, get their nerve to go visit what is supposed to be a haunted house. When they get there, they hear a noise but discover it is a puppy named Patches tied up in a garage next door. They untangle his leash and give him some water and attention. They want to help Patches but don't know how so turn to the director of the rescue where Lizzie volunteers for advice.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from the Patches' point of view. It is the eighth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Buddy" (2007) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson are very good with puppies. They want one of their own but their mom has never been ready for them to have one full time. For now, they help take care of puppies that need to find a new home. 

Lizzie helps out at the local dog shelter and the shelter's newest arrival, Skipper, has a surprise: three newborn puppies! The Petersons decide to foster all four dogs. 

Will they be able to find just the right home for all of them and can Mrs. Peterson resist even these adorable pups?

Lizzie and Charles, her younger brother, are in elementary school. They have been bugging their parents to get a dog but their mom is a cat person and has said no. She agrees to let them foster dogs so they can see what it's like having the responsibility of having a dog. 

Lizzie volunteers at an animal rescue which is overloaded with dogs. Since Lizzie and her family foster dogs, she meets Skipper, a new dog, and she gets a surprise ... not only does Skipper need a foster home but she also has three young puppies. Lizzie's parents agree to foster them and give them names. They name the only male puppy Buddy and he needs a bit more help as he's the runt. Lizzie and her family organize an adopt-a-thon at a local bookstore to raise awareness of the bookstore but also to find homes for the dogs in the shelter.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Rascal's point of view. It is the fifth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Flash" (2007) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. They have a puppy of their own named Buddy but they also foster dogs that need help finding new homes. 

Charles and Lizzie are visiting their cousins in the country when a young border collie is abandoned at their feet. Flash loves to run and chase so Charles and Lizzie know not just any home will work for this puppy. Can they find a forever home that's just right for Flash?

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. They recently got a dog named Buddy and still foster dogs and help them find a home.

Charles and Lizzie are visiting their cousins in the country when a car pulls up, drops off a puppy named Flash and then takes off. While they are trying to figure out who abandoned the puppy, they discover that Flash has lots of energy and an aptitude for agility training so start training him along with their own dog and their neighbour's dogs. Happily they find the right home for Flash in the end.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from the dogs' points of view. It is the sixth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Shadow" (2007) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Welcome to the Puppy Place - where every puppy finds a home!

Charles and Lizzie Peterson know a lot about puppies. That's because the Petersons are a foster family for young dogs. Someday they will have a puppy of their own. Until then, they keep busy helping special puppies find homes. 

When the Petersons meet Shadow, they know he is very special. He is a cute black Labrador retriever and he is extremely smart. Everyone agrees that Shadow deserves the best. He will be the perfect puppy for someone. But who will be the perfect owner for him?

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. They have been bugging their parents to get a dog but their mom is a cat person and has said no. She agrees to let them foster dogs so they can see what it's like having the responsibility of having a dog. 

A vet contacts them asks if they would like to foster Shadow, a Labrador retriever puppy, and find a home for him. Charles and Lizzie hope their home will be Shadow's new home. But their parents say no because they are going on vacation in a couple weeks and it's not the right time ... so they have to find a home for Shadow. During show and tell in her class one day, Lizzie gets the inspiration for what would be the best thing for Shadow.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Shadow's point of view. It is the third in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 64 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Thirteen Reasons Why" (2007) Jay Asher

From Goodreads ~ You can’t stop the future.

You can’t rewind the past.

The only way to learn the secret ... is to press play.

Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a strange package with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers several cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker - his classmate and crush - who committed suicide two weeks earlier. Hannah’s voice tells him that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he’ll find out why.

Clay spends the night crisscrossing his town with Hannah as his guide. He becomes a firsthand witness to Hannah’s pain and as he follows Hannah’s recorded words throughout his town, what he discovers changes his life forever.

One day Clay, a high school student, gets a mysterious package in the mail with seven cassette tapes, which were recorded by Hannah, a classmate who recently committed suicide. The tapes had been sent to other people before Clay received them.  He is instructed to listen to all seven tapes and then send them on to the next person.  As he listens to the tapes, he discovers there is a side for each person (thirteen sides/thirteen reasons) including himself, who Hannah says cause her to commit suicide.

I wasn't crazy about this book for a couple reasons.  First of all, I wasn't buying that these thirteen people were the reason Hannah committed suicide ... she committed suicide because she chose to commit suicide.  It doesn't sound like she was happy to begin with and was looking for an excuse.  I thought the reasons why she blamed the thirteen people were fairly lame so I don't think it was fair of her to blame them.

It is written from two perspectives.  In italics was Hannah's voice on the tapes and in bold were Clay's thoughts and reactions to what he was hearing.  They appeared on the same pages in paragraphs right after each other so I found this a bit distracting ... it took me a while to get used to it.  Also, I found the writing and the story kind of boring. 

Maybe because as an adult I'm not the target audience, but I didn't have a lot of sympathy for Hannah.  I didn't find her overly likable.  I knew she had committed suicide but I didn't feel bad about it.  And I was surprised that Clay's mother, knowing that something was bothering her son and that he was lying, would let him stay out late and wandering around the town "working on a school project".

Book ~ "T is for Trespass" (2007) Sue Grafton

From Goodreads ~ A miser and a hoarder, Gus Vronsky is so crotchety that after he takes a bad fall, his only living relative is anxious to find him some hired help and get back home as soon as she can. In an effort to help, Gus's neighbor, private investigator Kinsey Millhone, runs a check on an applicant for the job, Solana Rojas. Social Security, driver's license, nursing certification: It all checks out. And it sounds like she did a good job for her former employers. So Kinsey gives her the thumbs-up, figuring Gus will be the ideal assignment for this diligent, experienced caregiver. 

And the real Solana Rojas was indeed an excellent caregiver. But the woman who has stolen her identity is not, and for her, Gus will be the ideal victim.

It's late 1987 and Kinsey Millhone is a 37-year-old private detective in Santa Teresa, CA.  Her cantankerous neighbor, Gus, is badly injured in a fall.  His only living relative is a niece in New York and can't care for him so she hires Solana Rojas, a private nurse, to help him while he recuperates.  The niece hires Kinsey to check out Solana and everything seems okay.  But Kinsey becomes suspicious of Solana when Solana doesn't allow anyone to see Gus, is cleaning his place out and is rude.

In the meantime, Kinsey is investigating a case of possible insurance fraud involving a woman who drove into another car. The female passenger in the other car had serious injuries and she and her husband are suing.  Kinsey must track down a reluctant witness who can tell what really happened.

I thought this story was okay.  It was interesting to see how manipulative a person can be and get away with it.  It's written in first person perspective in Kinsey's voice but in third person perspective when it's Solana's voice.   As a head's up, there is swearing.

This is the twentieth in the "alphabet series" featuring Kinsey Millhone.  Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone.  I discovered this series in the mid-1990s and have read them all.  I started rereading them last year.  With the author's recent death, Y is for Yesterday will be the end of the series.

Book ~ "Play Dead" (2007) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Few can rival attorney Andy Carpenter's affection for golden retrievers, especially his own beloved Tara. 

After he astonishes a New Jersey courtroom by successfully appealing another golden's death sentence, Andy discovers that this gentle dog is a key witness to a murder that took place five years before. 

Andy pushes the boundaries of the law even further as he struggles to free an innocent man by convincing an incredulous jury to take canine testimony seriously. It will take all the tricks Andy's fertile mind can conceive to get to the bottom of a remarkable chain of impersonations and murder, and save a dog's life - and his own - in the process.

Andy is a lawyer.  Though the dog rescue that he and his former client, Willie, have opened, he comes across a golden retriever named Yogi who is supposed to be put down.  Because he has a golden retriever named Tara which he love love loves, he is determined to save Yogi.  He is successful but this leads him to defend Richard, the owner of Yogi.

Richard has been in prison for five years for murdering his fiancée ... until now, it was believed that he had also killed his beloved dog.  Richard lost everything when he went to prison ... his fiancée, his job and his freedom.  It's up to Andy, with the help of Karen, Richard's loyal sister, and his team of Sam, Kevin and Marcus, to fix this wrong.

This is the sixth book I've read by this author and I enjoyed it.  I liked the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing.  It was written in first person perspective in Andy's voice.  It is the sixth in the Andy Carpenter series (and the sixth I've read) and it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the first one to know what is going on).

I like Andy and it was good to see him back in the courtroom, where he belongs.  He's smart and shifty and recognizes his weaknesses ,,, he acknowledges that he's a coward.  He loves his dog, Tara, and thinks she's the most wonderful dog in the whole wide world.  Andy's team is made up of Kevin, his hypochondriac associate who also owns/runs a laundramat, Sam, his accountant who is also a computer hacker, and Marcus, an investigator with persuasive reasoning skills.  He calls in favours from his friends, Vince, the editor of the local newspaper, and Pete, a local police officer.

Book ~ "Dead Center" (2007) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ After Laurie Collins left him and headed west, New Jersey defense attorney Andy Carpenter didn't expect to ever see her again. So he's shocked when his ex-girlfriend appears on TV - and then calls him pleading for his help. Two coeds in Wisconsin have been found brutally stabbed to death. As the town's acting police chief, Laurie had to arrest a young college student with a carful of bloodstains who argued with one of the victims just before her death. Yet Laurie strongly believes that the suspect, Jeremy Davidson, is innocent. 

Trading the refineries and factories of Paterson for the frozen pastures of Findlay, Wisconsin, Andy soon finds himself in a small town handling a big-time double homicide case. He looks into Jeremy's romance with one of the victims - and the possible involvement of a bizarre religious cult - one that may sanction the most unholy, and vicious, of acts. 

While Andy tries to save Jeremy, make sense of his love life, and find a decent pizza for his beloved dog, Tara, the secrets of an ultra-religious community begin to rain down on him like bricks from a cracked fortress.  The path to the truth is littered with lies and misdirection. And before it's all over, the unexpected is the only thing Andy can count on.

Andy is trying to move on after Laurie, his investigator and girlfriend, moved four months ago to become a police officer in a small town in Wisconsin she grew up in.  Then he gets a call from her ... a young local has been arrested for murdering his ex-girlfriend and her friend and Laurie wants him to be his lawyer.  Andy and his dog, Tara, head to Findlay to see what he can do.

The two women who had been murdered were from a religious neighbouring town that likes to keep their affairs private.  Needless to say, Andy gets no help from the residents as he is investigating the murders.  With the help of a local lawyer, Laurie (as acting police chief) and Andy's team from New Jersey, they must prove that their client is innocent.

This is the fifth book I've read by this author and I thought it was just okay.  I found the plot a bit boring.  Perhaps I didn't like it as much as the others in the series because Andy was acting more like an investigator rather than doing his usual lawyer thing.  I found the whole religious cult kind of dumb ... the head is called a "Keeper" and he makes the town's decisions (marriages, occupations, etc.) by spinning a wheel.  I thought the ending wrapped up really quickly.  Andy suddenly figured it out and the bad person(s) caught ... done!  I would have liked a bit more explanation as to why things had happened to wrap it up.  During the book, Andy did some dumb things like meeting people but forgetting his cell phone.  And since he was out of town, there was no interaction with his friends, Pete or Vince, which is comical ... Andy and Sam barely song-talked.

The writing style was funny, sarcastic and amusing.  It was written in first person perspective in Andy's voice.  It is the fifth in the Andy Carpenter series (and the fifth I've read) and it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the first one to know what is going on).

Book ~ "Take Your Photography to the Next Level: From Inspiration to Image" (2007) George Barr

From Goodreads ~ This book is for the photographer who strives to achieve a higher level of results in their work. Take Your Photography to the Next Level is based on a series of essays originally featured on the popular Luminous Landscape website. Barr tackles some of the rarely discussed, yet essential aspects of successful photography. Here is where photographers will learn what is required in order to grow in their creativity and to gain a deeper understanding of their craft. With a foreward by Michael Reichmann. 

Topics include: 

• Creativity Dealing with disappointment 
• Developing an "eye" 
• Making stronger images 
• What photographs well 
• Where to go looking for the best photographic subjects 
• How to approach subject material 
• A great image is just around the corner 
• Dealing with failure 
• Mind games 
• Becoming a self-aware photographer 
• Framing, cropping, & manipulating prints to create mood and transmit your message

I have three cameras ... a Canon point-and-shoot that is usually in my purse, a Nikon D5100 DSLR along with some lenses, and a Nikon CoolPix (that's in between the two) that I use often.  Needless to say, I take a lot of pictures.  Gord and I took some classes last year to learn how to (1) use our cameras in other than auto mode and (2) take photographs, not just pictures.

I'm still an amateur and like reading photography books to see what professionals take pictures of and how they do it.

On a positive note, I thought most of the pictures in this book were really cool.

But to me it seemed like a book the author has written for himself about himself.  Yes, there is some information but I found it was was at a really high level.  He states upfront that this is not a book about "technical matters" but instead "tackles the more difficult questions in photography" ... alas it fell flat for me.  I wasn't crazy about the writing style and found it boring.

Book ~ "Christmas Lights" (2007) Christine Pisera Naman

From Goodreads ~ In separate vignettes, we meet Katherine, who is taking care of her ailing husband; Julianna, juggling with construction paper, scissors, and rubber cement in a room full of high-spirited four-year-olds; Adrianna, struggling with the difficulties of marriage; Cassandra, the busy mother of toddlers; Victoria, searching for a love to call her own; Alexandra, a young woman waiting for word from her doctor about an uncertain diagnosis; and Isabella, discovering the gift of motherhood. The lives of all the women come together in a moving conclusion that perfectly captures the heart and soul of the holiday spirit.

Alternately laugh-out-loud funny and poignant, Christmas Lights celebrates the most significant aspects of the season. Small, beautifully designed, and full of festive cheer, it is the ideal gift for anyone longing to rediscover the magic of Christmas.

We meet each of the seven women in a chapter of their own and get to know their unique situation.  The last chapter is where they all come together and we see what their connection is.

There is quite a bit of talk about/with God ... the women are strong in their faith.  Though I'm not religious at all, I didn't find that it was rammed down my throat.

This is a nice quick book to read, especially around the holiday season.  It was just the right length.  I enjoyed it.

I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.

Book ~ "Eat That Frog!" (2007) Brian Tracy

The first rule of frog eating: If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.

The second rule of frog eating: If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn’t pay to sit and look at it for very long.

Twenty-one great ways to stop procrastinating, improve organization skills, and get more done in less time:

1. Set the table: Decide exactly what you want. Clarity is essential. Write out your goals and objectives before you begin;
2. Plan every day in advance: Think on paper. Every minute you spend in planning can save you five or ten minutes in execution;
3. Apply the 80/20 Rule to everything: Twenty percent of your activities will account for eighty percent of your results. Always concentrate your efforts on that top twenty percent;
4. Consider the consequences: Your most important tasks and priorities are those that can have the most serious consequences, positive or negative, on your life or work. Focus on these above all else;
5. Practice the ABCDE Method continually: Before you begin work on a list of tasks, take a few moments to organize them by value and priority so you can be sure of working on your most important activities:
6. Focus on key result areas: Identify and determine those results that you absolutely, positively have to get to do your job well, and work on them all day long;
7. The Law of Forced Efficiency: There is never enough time to do everything but there is always enough time to do the most important things. What are they?
8. Prepare thoroughly before you begin: Proper prior preparation prevents poor performance;
9. Do your homework: The more knowledgeable and skilled you become at your key tasks, the faster you start them and the sooner you get them done;
10. Leverage your special talents: Determine exactly what it is that you are very good at doing, or could be very good at, and throw your whole heart into doing those specific things very, very well:
11. Identify your key constraints: Determine the bottlenecks or chokepoints, internally or externally, that set the speed at which you achieve your most important goals and focus on alleviating them;
12. Take it one oil barrel at a time: You can accomplish the biggest and most complicated job if you just complete it one step at a time;
13. Put the pressure on yourself: Imagine that you have to leave town for a month and work as if you had to get all your major tasks completed before you left;
14. Maximize your personal powers: Identify your periods of highest mental and physical energy each day and structure your most important and demanding tasks around these times. Get lots of rest so you can perform at your best;
15. Motivate yourself into action: Be your own cheerleader. Look for the good in every situation. Focus on the solution rather than the problem. Always be optimistic and constructive;
16. Practice creative procrastination: Since you can’t do everything, you must learn to deliberately put off those tasks that are of low value so that you have enough time to do the few things that really count;
17. Do the most difficult task first: Begin each day with your most difficult task, the one task that can make the greatest contribution to yourself and your work, and resolve to stay at it until it is complete:
18. Slice and dice the task: Break large, complex tasks down into bite sized pieces and then just do one small part of the task to get started;
19. Create large chunks of time: Organize your days around large blocks of time where you can concentrate for extended periods on your most important tasks;
20. Develop a sense of urgency: Make a habit of moving fast on your key tasks. Become known as a person who does things quickly and well;
21. Single handle every task: Set clear priorities, start immediately on your most important task and then work without stopping until the job is 100% complete. This is the real key to high performance and maximum personal productivity.

Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it. It is also the one task that can have the greatest positive impact on your life and results at the moment.

This is a quick read and a good reminder of how to get past the tasks we don't want to do that are holding us back.

Book ~ "Town House" (2007) Tish Cohen

From Amazon ~ The son of a legendary rock musician, Jack Madigan has been living off his father's royalties for years, but things are looking dire as the money runs out. His wife has already left, unable to deal with Jack's refusal to confront his agoraphobia; his teenage son, who avidly embraces 1970s clothing because "uncool is the new cool," may relocate to California with his mom; and Jack's once magnificent Boston townhouse, now crumbling around him, is being repossessed by the bank. Even his work as a color consultant--he has been tinkering for years with a formula for the perfect white--is failing to provide the funds he so desperately needs. His only hope is the charming but hopelessly inept realtor assigned to sell the house. With the help of the little girl next door, whose dream is to become an Olympic skater, Jack suddenly finds himself motivated to face his greatest fear--stepping outside of his house. Rising above its obvious, overly tidy plotting, this highly readable first novel offers plenty of sardonic humor and a cast of endearing eccentrics.

I picked this book up at the library because it was on a table of books by Canadian authors. I hadn't read anything by Cohen before.

I enjoyed it. I liked the writing style. Given the subject matter, at times the book was funny.

The story was interesting. Though I have no problem leaving the house and have never known anyone who has agoraphobia, Jack did and I could feel his panic and fear when he tried to. He wanted to overcome it so much but couldn't.

I liked the characters. All were quirky in their own way. Jack's father had been a singer (I pictured a young Alice Cooper) before he died in an unfortunate accident when Jack was a kid. Jack felt the loss of his dad all his life. Jack's teenage son, Harlan, was great ... a funny kid. He knows his dad has a problem and, though he encourages him to get better, takes such good care of him. I was concerned that Lucinda, the little girl next door, would be annoying but she wasn't. She had a wacky family who neglected her and was a good friend to Jack. Dorrie, the real estate agent, sounded like a ditz who realized she kind of realized she was but didn't realize how much.

I'd recommend this book if you are looking for something quirky about an unusual topic.

Book ~ " The Eat-Clean Diet" (2007) - Tosca Reno

From Goodreads ~ With The Eat-Clean Diet, the diet that fitness professionals rely on, readers will transform themselves from sluggish, exhausted and overweight to energetic, lean and fabulous Just like the author and cover girl Tosca Reno did when she was sixty pounds overweight, readers will discover how to make their bodies burn fat while eating tons of food. We've all seen the fitness professionals on the covers of magazines and wished we could look like them. The truth is, they are real people. Just like you, they had to figure out how to get their bodies to look like that. And they all came to the same conclusion: Eat Clean So who better to write a book on the subject than formerly overweight fitness diva and mother of three, Tosca Reno? Tosca shows you how to lose over sixty pounds, like she did, or just that last ten. When you read The Eat-Clean Diet you will: Rev up your metabolism to burn more fat -faster ; Lose weight quickly and easily; Never go hungry; Eat all food groups: protein and carbs and fat; Eat five to seven meals a day; Receive Eat-Clean recipes with color photos; Have more energy than you ever dreamed possible; Stay lean forever never worry about dieting again.

I like reading books about eating healthy. I saw Tosca Reno briefly interviewed on CP24 a couple weeks ago. She looked great so I thought I'd check out one of her books.

I didn't learn anything new ... but it was a good reminder to eat complex carbs with protein to stay full longer, eat smaller meals and drink lots of water.

Alas, there's a lot of repetition in this book. Drink lots of water. Yep, I've got it a couple times already. Eat complex carbs with protein. Yep, I've got that too.

At times, I found the writing was condescending and not in reality. Here's an example in the "Ordering out" chapter under "Making friends with the server".

"Use your charm in a firm but polite manner to win him or her over. Keep your instructions simple. Once you have charmed him into your corner, tell him politely but meaningfully that you will return the food if it comes covered in the things you didn't want."

Really?? He's going to spit in your food!

Or how about the chapter about feeding your kids:

"Once your children start Eating Clean they will not enjoy junk food in the same way. That's a promise! Teenagers have notoriously poor eating habits. They feed voraciously on greasy French fries and sugar-loaded carbonated beverages and all manner of garbage foods. These foods will lose their appeal after Clean Eating has been implemented in your household."

Hmmmm ... I doubt it.

Though there is some useful information, this is not a book I'd recommend.

Book ~ "Stone Cold" (2007) David Baldacci

From davidbaldacci.com ~ Oliver Stone and the Camel Club are back in their most dangerous adventure yet, a war on two fronts. Casino king Jerry Bagger is hunting Annabelle Conroy who conned him out of millions. Stone and his colleagues Reuben, Milton, and Caleb marshal all their resources to protect Annabelle.

Yet all their skills may not be enough when a deadly new opponent rips off the veneer of Stone’s own mysterious past: Bagger’s menace pales next to newcomer Harry Finn’s lethality. Passing as a normal family man, Finn has already killed three men, with more targets to come. When Finn sets his bull’s-eye on Stone, his reason will be the greatest shock of all, causing readers to reconsider their views of good and evil. As bodies and institutions topple, the story rockets toward a shattering finale that will leave the survivors of this explosive tale changed forever.

I hadn't read the other two Camel Club books so was a bit lost in some of the past references. But it wasn't enough that I didn't get what was going on. I'd like to go back and read the first two.

It's a suspense novel that would probably appeal more to guys given its story and violence.
I like Baldacci's writing style. It's fast paced and interesting. There are two stories happening at the same time that eventually come to an end.

I liked the characters ... I found them believable. I was cheering for the good guys and hoping the worst for the bad guys.

Book ~ "Organize Your Corpses" (2007) Mary Jane Maffini

From MaryJaneMaffini.com ~ When thirty-year-old Charlotte Adams returns home to set up her personal organizing business in the historic town of Woodbridge, NY, she's expecting to find clients who need professional help sorting out their clutter, collections and just plain junk. She's expecting to reconnect with her old school friends, the lovable misfits: Sally, Margaret and Jack.  She's expecting that her two rescued miniature dachshunds will help her forget her lying, cheating ex-fiancé and the square-cut diamond she's just tossed into the Hudson. 

She's not expecting to find her first client dead in the debris of a historic home. Not even a little bit. The death of the tyrannical retired teacher Helen "Hellfire" Henley makes the news in a big way. That's got to be bad for business. Naturally things get worse when the police find Charlotte's pen under the body. This is particularly tricky since Charlotte's former friend and current nemesis, Sgt. Pepper Monahan is in charge of the investigation. Try organizing your way out of that, lady.

This is the first book in Maffini's Charlotte Adams series ... and I liked it. I'll read the others.

The story moves along at a good pace. The main character, Charlotte, is likable. The other cast of characters are quirky but also likable. I didn't figure out the ending, the "who dunnit", which is always a fun surprise for me.

Charlotte has a soft spot for animals, as does her pal, Jack, which I liked. Charlotte's two dogs are in dire need of training and discipline, though ... I didn't find them cute.

There were a lot of references to the fact that Charlotte and Pepper, the head of the police, had been best friends in school but hated each other now. It would have been nice to know why.

Better editing would have been nice as there were a couple typos in the "organizational tips" at the beginning of each chapter.

Book ~ "Bright Lights, Big Ass" (2007) Jen Lancaster

From Goodreads ~ Jen Lancaster hates to burst your happy little bubble, but life in the big city isn't all it's cracked up to be. Contrary to what you see on TV and in the movies, most urbanites aren't party-hopping in slinky dresses and strappy stilettos. But lucky for us, Lancaster knows how to make the life of the lower crust mercilessly funny and infinitely entertaining. 

Whether she's reporting rude neighbors to Homeland Security, harboring a crush on her grocery store clerk, or fighting-and losing-the Battle of the Stairmaster- Lancaster explores how silly, strange, and not-so-fabulous real city living can be. And if anyone doesn't like it, they can kiss her big, fat, pink, puffy down parka.

This is Lancaster's second book ... there are five in total (I've read the other four).

In this book, things are turning around for Jen and her husband, Fletch. Her first book, Bitter is the New Black, is just about to come out and she has to take temp jobs that she is overqualified for to survive.

Her sarcastic humour, which I enjoy, is there. I love reading about her interaction with her spoiled dogs and cats.

I must admit that I skipped over when she discussed politics ... I don't know and I don't care.

And her use of footnotes still irritates me.

All in all, though, I'd recommend this book if you are looking for a funny mindless memoir of no one famous.