Book Review: Guardians by Josi Russell

Guardians is the 2nd book in the Caretaker Chronicles by Josi Russell, published by Future House Publishing.  (#FutureHousePub)

As with the first book Caretaker, I had a hard time putting this one down. The book picks up 4 years after the ship reaches Minea, and the passengers have found out that things aren't exactly as they'd been led to believe before they left Earth. The city has been carefully planned, and their ship was never supposed to arrive. Because of this, most of the passengers are finding it hard to fit in and find a place for themselves on their new planet.

Because of his part in saving the passengers from slavery as they slept through the stars (as chronicles in Caretaker), Ethan Bryant (Caretaker) has been given a government position, and he and his family do what they can to help their fellow passengers. More often than not, they feel helpless to do anything of real value.

Even those colonists who were supposed to be there have found that things aren't as rosy as they'd expected. They find themselves deeply in debt and barely able to feed their own families. And then people start getting sick and the food supply begins to dry up. What is going on, and will someone figure it out before more people die? And what do the aliens who have suddenly appeared above the planet want?

As noted on the About the Author page at the end of the book - "Josi Russell's science fiction novels explore familiar human relationships in unfamiliar contexts." She definitely does a good job of that in this book. The book explores themes of family, friendship, love, and redemption a midst the darker human traits of greed, selfishness, and betrayal. All while the colonists face new challenges and new setbacks on their adopted planet. This book will definitely keep you reading until the very end.  I enjoyed it very much.

You can grab your copy of Guardians on Amazon.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for review.

Good boy, Weasley

When I came back from my walk this morning, as I was turning some lights on in the family room, I noticed that Weasley was purring and trying to get my attention.  He does that sometimes when he thinks I'm going to go sit down so he can rush and sit on my lap.  He's so neglected!  But when I get back from walking, he knows it will be a while before I sit down.  So it wasn't that.

Then I glanced down.  And had to look again.

No, that wasn't a toy mouse. Weasley caught and killed a mouse, and he wanted to be sure I knew about it.

That is the first I knew about any mice in the house.  I'm re-reading the post I shared recently about getting rid of unwanted pests, and we haven't noticed any signs.  So we don't know where the little guy came from, how long he was here, or if there are any more.  But at least now we know Weasley can catch and kill a mouse - or at least play with it to death.

After he'd shown it to me - and I made sure to let him know what a good boy he was - he again started playing with it, tossing it around and chasing it, purring all the while.  So I gave him some cat treats, bagged it up, and took it outside to the trash toter before he could lose it under some furniture somewhere like he does with most of his toys.

Good boy, Weasley.

Get the New Josi Russell Book Guardians for 99¢ on Amazon

I was offered an opportunity to review a new book - that just happens to be available TODAY - called Guardians by Josi Russell.  When I read the description, and that of the prequel Caretaker, I knew I just had to read these books.

Currently I'm 28% into Caretaker, and I'm having a hard time putting it down.  Yes, I'm supposed to be reviewing the new book, but I obviously have to read the first one first.  And the good news is that you can read both of them too.  They're both only 99¢ on Amazon (Kindle version) right now through February 17, 2016.  (If you don't have a Kindle, you can always read on your computer or other device using the free Kindle app.  Or just click the banner at the top of this page and get your own Kindle Fire; the price is really good right now.)

To celebrate the launch of Guardians, Future House Publishing and Josi Russell are giving away both an autographed copy of Guardians and the audio book of Caretaker.  You can enter here.  I've already entered even though I have the Kindle versions of both books - because I love free stuff, and it is an autographed copy!  And an audio book too.

Disclosure: I received a copy of Guardians from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review, so be sure to come back for that.  In the meantime, go grab your copies of Guardians and Caretaker.  You only have until the 17th before the price goes up again.

Getting Rid of Unwanted Creatures from Your Home or Business

Even if your home or business is perfectly clean, you may still have pests like spiders, rats, and termites in your building. These creatures have a way of finding a way into a building and making themselves immediately at home. When your best attempts to trap and eliminate them have failed, it is time for you to reach out to professionals who are trained to kill off pests permanently. You can partner with skilled contractors like exterminators in MD and other pest control specialists who are ready to come to your location today.

Identifying the Pests in Your Building

Many home and business owners do not know the range of pests that can come into their buildings. They may not recognize the droppings, chew marks, and other tell-tale signs of a pest invasion. Some creatures, however, are easy to detect, at least for some people. If you have ever heard chewing sounds in the walls, seen chew marks on wires, the doorways, and papers, or seen droppings on the floor and in cupboards, you could be certain that you have rodents in your home or business.

Rodents must be trapped and removed. They are not like bugs that can be killed with spraying. A pest control contractor must lay out traps, put out poisons, or even put down sticky pads that will trap and kill rodents permanently. Some poisons are taken back to the nest to kill the offspring as well.

It is important that you maintain a relationship with your contractor until all of the rodents are killed and removed. If you end the relationship early, you could be left with rotting rat and mice corpses in your building.

Other Pest Removal Services

Along with rats and mice, your building may also be infested with spiders, roaches, and other bugs. These creatures can be removed relatively quickly if you act promptly. Contractors can spray and put out gels that will kill the bugs rapidly. Their offspring will also be killed. Many buildings only require two or three treatments to become totally bug-free.

You can keep bugs out, however, by maintaining a relationship with a licensed pest control contractor. Regular spraying and inspection can ensure that bugs and pests are staying out for good.

What's So Great About This Thing They Call a Dishwasher?

I never had a dishwasher until we moved to this house a couple years ago.  Unless you want to count the kids who mainly just grumbled about having to do something around the house and seemed to have a hard time actually getting things clean.  Thinking about it now, they probably did that on purpose so they could hopefully get out of washing dishes in the future.  And it worked way more than it should have.

When we built our house in Wisconsin, I had the choice of putting in a dishwasher or just having a cabinet in the spot next to the sink.  I chose a cabinet, because you can never have enough storage in the kitchen.  And I didn't want to pay extra to have the dishwasher. When we moved here, there was already a dishwasher.  We did end up buying a new one when we bought our new refrigerator so that it went with the other appliances better, and we gave the one that was here to Beth, along with the washer and dryer.

You'd think, because we actually spent money on it, that I would actually use the dishwasher, and I have - a handful of times.  I just haven't figured out what's so great about it yet.  It seems it takes longer to figure out how things are supposed to go into the dishwasher than it actually does to just wash the dishes.  Seriously, I really have no idea how things are even supposed to go in there, and I just end up getting frustrated.

And then there are the things that can't go into the dishwasher - wooden handled knives and wooden spoons that will dry out, silicone scrapers and plastic things that will pick up the smell of the dishwasher soap and hold onto it for ages, anything that will rust if it's not dried right away, etc.  The only things left that can actually go into the dishwasher are usually glasses, plates, bowls, and other easy-to-wash things.  I mean, I suppose at least I wouldn't have to wash those, but if I have to fill the sink with soapy water to wash all the other things, it seems silly not to just go ahead and wash everything while I'm at it.  Considering it takes 2 to 3 hours for the thing to run, it's definitely quicker to just wash the dishes and get it over with. 

Also, there are only two of us.  There are definitely dishes every day, but it would take several days to fill the dishwasher up with the things that can actually go in there.  My thought is that it takes the same amount of water, power, detergent, and time to run the dishwasher no matter how full it is, so there's no reason to run it unless it is completely full.  It would just seem wrong.  The problem with that is there are things I use on a regular basis, and I need to have them clean before I'd ever think of running the dishwasher.  So, even if I loaded things in there, I'd be pulling them out again so I could wash them and use them.

I usually wash dishes after dinner, stack them in the drainer to dry overnight, and put them away in the morning while the coffee brews.  It works perfectly because I hate drying dishes.  If the dishwasher runs and I don't remember to crack the door open so air can get in overnight, unloading and putting the dishes away also includes drying.  Did I mention that I hate drying dishes?  Honestly, I have a hard enough time getting my hands dry sometimes, let alone trying to get dishes dry.

So, those of you who think you just can't live without your dishwasher - what is so great about this thing?  Oh, I'm sure I'm doing it wrong, but I honestly don't mind washing dishes.  It's one of my two favorite things to do when I want to warm up.  Or maybe that's three favorite things...

Homebuilding Requires More Than a Good Idea or a Blueprint

If you ask the average person what kind of house they would prefer, they likely could tell you the style of the house, describing it in detail, and give you every one of the house's features. Some who have some drawing skill could even sketch the house for you. It takes a lot more than a sense of style to build a house, though. In fact you have to be licensed in every state just to take on this task. Here are some things that contractors have to learn before they are allowed to build homes or master the contractor license renewal process.

• Reading Blueprints and Understanding Building Codes
  Imagine how dangerous some houses would be for living if there were no agency to inspect the work. People would have to deal with fire hazards, substandard materials, fall and accident hazards, and other potential dangers. Fortunately, cities have processes in place to ensure that all contractors understand how to read the blueprints for buildings and understand how legal codes might impact the building plans. No matter how beautiful the idea is for a new house, it has to stand up to current code regulations.
• Energy Conservation
  Every gorgeous idea is not necessarily the most energy efficient use of materials and space. When contractors participate in continuing education courses, or take the required courses for initial licensure, they learn how to best use materials in order to protect the environment, preserve the longevity of materials, and conserve energy. Although some cities offer incentives to encourage contractors to engage in these best practices, the most trusted contractors are already using energy efficient plans as a part of their routine contract work. 
• OSHA and Other Safety Regulations
  Almost everybody knows someone who is a jack-of-all-trades and could build a house from the ground up with little to no help. However, this natural ability does not mean that the jack-of-all-trades is prepared to build safely. Licensing courses teach contractors the best ways to approach safety and keep construction sites compliant with local and national regulations. The risk of not having this training is personal and crew safety, as well as a potential construction shut-down if officials are not pleased with safety precautions.

No matter how good your idea may be for a new house, it is not sound unless it can withstand the inspections required by most cities. The rules are there to protect both contractors and those who dwell in the house. Licensing courses help ensure contractors really know what they are doing.

Book List 2015

Once again I could just link you to my Year in Books on Goodreads, but that would just be too easy.  It does take a bit of the surprise out of it for me, because they've already told me how many books I read - not counting all those kids books I read repeatedly when Jason was here visiting.

This year Goodreads even told me how many pages I read.  Do you think they were copying me from last year?  I did list all my pages and listening time in last year's book list.  I will have to redo it, though because they didn't differentiate between books I read and books I listened to.  So, I may already know how many books I read, but I don't yet know how many pages and hours.  Shall we see?

Also, once again I'll link to any reviews I did.  I wonder if I did a better job rating and reviewing this year?  I meant to.

January

1. 84 Ribbons (Ballet Trilogy #1) - Paddy Eger
2. The Prayer of Jabez: Breaking Through to the Blessed Life - Bruce H. Wilkinson
3. Hidden - Catherine McKenzie
4. Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good (Mitford Years #10) - Jan Karon (audio)
5. The Summer Guest - Justin Cronin
6. Wild Rover No More: Being the Last Recorded Account of the Life & Times of Jacky Faber (Bloody Jack #12) - L.A. Meyer (audio)
7. Forgiven (Firstborn #2) - Karen Kingsbury

1493 pages | 28 hours and 10 minutes

February

8. Life Drawing - Robin Black
9. The Giver (The Giver Quartet #1) - Lois Lowry (audio)
10. Gathering Blue (The Giver Quartet #2) - Lois Lowry (audio)
11. Found (Firstborn #3) - Karen Kingsbury
12. Messenger (The Giver Quartet #3) - by Lois Lowry ( (audio)

615 pages | 13 hours 56 minutes

March

13. Son (The Giver Quartet #4) - Lois Lowry (audio)
14. Living a Life That Matters: from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream - Ben Lesser, (audio)
15. The Moon Sisters - Therese Walsh

288 pages | 16 hours 54 minutes

April

16. Sycamore Row - John Grisham (audio)

20 hours 50 minutes

May

17. Seeker - Arwen Elys Dayton
18. When God Winks: How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life - Squire Rushnell (audio)
19. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves - Karen Joy Fowler (audio)

448 pages | 12 hours 51 minutes

June

20. While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement - Carolyn Maull McKinstry, (audio)

7 hours 58 minutes

July

21. The Murder at the Vicarage (Miss Marple #1) - Agatha Christie (audio)
22. Eeny Meeny (Helen Grace #1)- M.J. Arlidge
23. Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes #1)- Andy Lane (audio)
24. The Thread: God's Appointments with History - Ronald, L. Dart
25. Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard - Laura Bates
26. The King's Speech: How One Man Saved the British Monarchy - Mark Logue and Peter Conradi (audio)

1029 pages | 22 hours 23 minutes

August

27. Confessions of a Prayer Slacker - Diane Moody
28. Smoke - Catherine McKenzie
29. Eight Twenty Eight: When Love Didn't Give Up - Larissa Murphy and Ian Murphy (audio)
30. God's Favorite Place on Earth - Frank Viola
31. Rose Under Fire (Code Name Verity #2) - Elizabeth Wein (audio)

744 pages | 19 hours 1 minute

September

32. The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower #1)- Stephen King
33. Divided We Fall - Trent Reedy (audio)
34. The Good Neighbor - A.J. Banner

430 pages | 10 hours 42 minutes

October

35. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail - Cheryl Strayed (audio)
36. The Dog That Saved Stewart Coolidge - Jim Kraus
37. The Martian - Andy Weir

721 pages | 13 hours 6 minutes

November

38. Come Rain or Come Shine (Mitford Years #11) - Jan Karon (audio)
39. The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower #2) - Stephen King
40. Obsession in Death (In Death #40) - J.D. Robb (audio)

399 pages | 21 hours 55 minutes

December

41. Devoted in Death (In Death #41) - J.D. Robb (audio) 12h 16m
42. Frozen: The Junior Novelization - Sarah Nathan (audio) 2h 18m
43. Evening Prayers for Every Day of the Year - Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt

366 pages | 14 hours 34 minutes

• Total books - 43 (compare to 49 in 2014)
• Total pages - 6533 (compare to 9931 pages in 2014)
• Total time - 200 hours  (compare to 151 hours in 2014)

Source for page numbers - Goodreads and/or Amazon | Source for audio book lengths - Audible

I did a slightly better job of writing at least a short review of the books I read.  Out of the 43 books I read, I wrote a review for 17 of them.  I always have a hard time knowing what to say beyond stating whether I liked it or not.  I should at least start doing that.  Oftentimes I have every intention of writing something, but then I've moved on to the next book, and I never get back to it. 

How many books did you read in 2015?  I'd love to hear some suggestions for my 2016 reading list.

*if you happen to click any of the book covers and buy  from Amazon, they say they'll pay me a small percentage.  Every little bit helps, and I thank you for your support!

Three Important Things to Consider Before Throwing a DIY Wedding

If this is the first time you visited my blog, you may not know that I married my lovely husband Jeffrey almost 30 years ago. In those days, many couples planned their wedding days on their own with the help and support of their family and friends. In today's modern world, it sometimes seems impossible to host a wedding and a reception without a professional wedding planner. After announcing your engagement, you should consider a few things when deciding whether to go it alone or work with a planner.

How Much Help Do You Have?

The DIY option is great for those who have a lot of help and support. You might have your mother, future mother-in-law, cousins, sisters and best friends ready to assist you every step of the way. If you want a smaller ceremony and don't have a lot of family or friends, you might look at whether the venue you selected can help. For example, the Chevy Chase Golf Club has wedding planners who can help you pick a location at the country club, find caterers and decide on decorations. Similar venues may offer help as well.

What Does Your Guest List Look Like?

Hosting a DIY wedding and reception is generally best when you want a more casual affair with just a handful of guests. Make sure you decide up front on how many people you want to invite. If you find that the list keeps growing and spiraling out of control, it's time to get some professional help. A wedding planner can assist you with finding invitations, addressing and mailing those invitations, working out a menu with your caterers and ensuring that you have enough seating on hand for all your guests.

How Much Money Can You Spend?

Whether you plan your big day on your own or with the help of a professional often depends on the budget you have in mind. Wedding planners can charge an hourly rate or charge one set fee based on the amount of work and help you need. If you find yourself pinching every penny to save money and bring your wedding in under your budget, you may not have enough left over to afford professional help. Working with a planner, however, may be exactly what you need to stick to your budget.

Consider all these options when deciding whether to work with a planner or have a DIY wedding.

Surprising Book Facts

I'm working on my 2015 Book List, and I came across this image on Facebook.  I'm not sure where this information came from or even if it's true - but if it is, it is very surprising to me.  Or at least very hard to believe or understand.  There are so many books available - books on every conceivable subject full of stories about everything under the sun.  You'd think everyone would be able to find something of interest.

But, apparently, they aren't even looking.

Just sad.

Things You Can Do To Prevent Mold

Mold within a home isn't just unsightly, it's dangerous. Certain types of mold can pose serious health risks and lead to respiratory distress which can prove fatal to the very young, the very old, and those with compromised immune systems. It's important to know what steps you can take to prevent mold from forming within your home.

1. Dry wet areas immediately.
   Mold requires moisture to grow. If you find an area in your home that is wet due to a leak, dry it as quickly as possible. Look for areas that are frequently wet and do what you can to identify and solve the problem. Doorways, improperly sealed windows, basements, and other areas where outside moisture may seep in or a leaky pipe may cause problems should be watched carefully to ensure mold isn't forming out of sight.
2. Ensure your home is properly ventilated.
   Proper air flow will ensure that moisture dries quickly. Areas with high amounts of moisture, such as a laundry room, bathroom, or kitchen should have a good air flow through them to ensure nothing molds. Dishes tucked away at the bottom of the sink, laundry buried at the bottom of the pile, and other oft-overlooked culprits of mold are usually the things people forget about.
3. Use mold resistant products.
   Mold-resistant drywall and sheetrock is available for purchase. If you're renovating your home, consider using a type of material that will resist mold growth and help keep your home safe from an insidious threat that you may not even know is there until it's too late.
4. Direct moisture away from the home.
   Ensure your gutters are in proper working order, and make sure the ground around your home doesn't slope down towards the foundation. If water is frequently entering your home from outside, it could be because your home's drainage is compromised. Speak with a landscaper to fix the issue and keep your home dry.

If you already have mold in your home, you should contact a professional company right away to remove it. There are a number of companies that offer mold remediation DC. Employing the services of any one of these companies can make the difference in your quality of living. However, doing what you can to prevent mold from forming in the first place is important.