The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

I had no expectation when I started reading this book, but within pages, I knew I had something very special in my hands.

Adam Spencer Ross is a young man with issues, he counts everything obsessively.  One week, while attending his OCD group therapy session, a new member walks in and almost immediately Adam knows that their fates are linked, that he could love her.  This prompts him to work harder at making changes in his life that have far reaching impacts he couldn't have imagined.  His personal changes starts ripples throughout the members of his group.

I love this book. I love Adam, there is something about him that calls out to me.  He seems so earnest in wanting to improve himself.  I particularly like how he helps his little step-brother deal with his anxiety.    Even though I am not a boy and no longer a teen, his behaviour seems right on.

I find Adam to be an inspiring character.  He shows that personal growth is quite possible even through small, seemingly inconsequential improvements.  And the super hero angle, it shows that each of us is capable of huge acts if only we can shed the baggage we carry around that is stopping us.

Author Teresa Toten won the Governor General Award for Children's Literature for this book in 2013 along with a number of other important awards.

Cover image courtesy Penguin RandomHouse Canada.

#IndigoEmployee

Murder in a Cold Climate by Scott Young

This is a well written and devised plot. I loved the remote northern setting on Inuit, Dene and First Nations lands.  While the book was written by a southerner, I felt it gave a fair depiction of life and relationaships in the north.  It felt both like a Canadian community as well as like a first Nations and Inuit community. 

I loved the character of Matteesie.  Inspector Matthew "Matteesie" Kitologitak is the first Inuk inspector with the RMCP when he is asked to search for a missing plane and it passengers.  He is smart and thorough, yet down to earth.  He knows the people he is dealing with and uses and approach that will work with them.  Of course, the search is not as simple as it seems at the onset when outside interests and motivations come into play.

This was a refreshing read that took me away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and gave me the space to  ponder the story and  it's characters.

The story of Matteesie continues in The Shaman's Knife. Scott Young passed way in 2005 after a long career in journalism.  He wrote more than forty-five books, both fiction and non-fiction.

#IndigoEmployee

Cover image courtesy Indigo Books and Music

Addison Cooke and the Treasure of the Incas by Jonathan W. Stokes

This is an awesome story.  What to do when your aunt and uncle, who are your legal guardians, are abducted.  If you're Addison Cooke, you call in your sister and your best friends and you plan a rescue.

As museum curators, his aunt and uncle don't lead the boring life you might expect, instead, they are often travelling to far off, exotic sounding places hunting for lost treasures.  Unfortunately for all of them, this time they have found a clue that has put them in peril.  With the help of his sister Molly, and with his best friends Eddie and Raj, the four are set to venture forth across the globe to follow the remaining clues and find the treasure and their family.

I loved this book.  It was fun and exciting;  I could hardly put it down.  Not only was it full of adventure, I was also introduced to the the history of the Incas.  Along the way, the group faces physical as well as moral challenges.  Young readers should find the resolution to each encouraging.

Author Jonathan W. Stokes has signed a multi-book deal with his publisher, leading me to expect that Addison and his fellow explorers have at least a few missions ahead of them.

Cover image courtesy Penguin RandomHouse Canada.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review*

#IndigoEmployee
 

Needlework Tuesday - Time out for Paint Nite

Last week I attended a Paint Nite event with a friend.  I haven't painted in years and my friend didn't recall picking up a paint brush since grade school.  We had a lot of fun and came home with new paintings for our walls.

#PaintNite

The class plan called for making blue scenes, but nothing in my house calls for blue.  I dug out my colour wheel and selected the complimentary colour to my front room sofa, which is an olive green.  This pink/purple looks great with it.  Good to know that some of my needlework knowledge crosses crafts.

I also found some time to get in a bit more stitching.  And just in time as my local guild meeting was last evening.  We were to bring in the first two completed blocks for our BOM program.   I'm liking how my colours work together.  I have several of the teals and will probably need to get another brown piece as I am short by a 1/2 yard.

My plan is to jump right in and work ahead on the blocks.  Of the twelve in the pattern, I like 11 of them, but the cake stand block has to go, it's just too different from the others.  That's one great thing about making your own items, you can change and adapt them to your own desires.  Just like changing the colour in the painting, I can change any of the block patterns and make it something I can love.

As I get closer to the finish of my afghan, I am getting itchy fingers.  I have one final pair of socks to make for my Craftsy class.  I borrowed these wools from my sister and will use them to make the third pair.  Lucky sister, she gets the socks when I am done and my bonus, I didn't have to purchase any more supplies.  I think we are both winners.  Did I mention that my sister has a massive yarn/wool stash.  She was more than happy to share with me.   My mom is the same way with quilting fabric.   Unless we each have bought for a specific project,  we all share with each other.  Make for some very happy crafting exchanges.

I leave you with two questions today: first, have you attended a painting event? what did you think about it.  Second, do you share and trade your craft supplies with family and friends?

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I hope that you are having fun and  making progress on whatever project is dear to your heart at this moment.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your needlework post.

The Maze of Bones (The 39 Clues #1) by Rick Riordan

I loved this book.  It was a fun, fast paced action story with lots of surprises.

Minutes after their grandmother's funeral, siblings Amy and Dan are invited to the reading of her will, where they learn that to inherit her fortune they must undertake a difficult challenge.  They will be competing with a number of their relatives to find the secret that will make him or her the most powerful person in the world.  They are given  just one clue to start them on their way.

Amy and Dan seem fairly normal, but some of their far flung cousins and aunts and uncles appear rather extreme.  I rather like their older uncle Alistair Oh.  Time will tell whether he is genuine about wanting to help the siblings and if he really does have information to share about their deceased parents.  Their au pair Nellie promises to be an asset throughout this search as she has untold skills that she sparingly reveals.

Not only is this book entertaining, it is educational.  I enjoyed learning about an important American historical figure.  I hope that this angle continues in the future books in this series.  This book is recommended for ages 8-12.

For more fun, visit the 39 Clues website where you can embark on your own quest.

Cover image courtesy Scholastic Books.

#IndigoEmployee

Seizure (Virals #2) by Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs

The kids seem to have recovered from their parvovirus exposure and are ready for a fun summer when they learn that Loggerhead Island Research Institute is set to close.  They are desperate to find a way to save their institute and keep their pack together.  They can't be separated just when they are learning how to deal with their new found abilities.

While attending a cotillion event, Tory learns of the legend of pirate Anne Bonney and her long lost treasure.  If only they could find the loot and use it to save the Institute.  What follows is a fast paced adventure that will challenge their bonds as friends as well as their controls of their canine talents.  I think this book is even better than the first in the series.

Authors Kathy Reichs and her son Brendan have created an exciting and possible tale.  After all, treasures do get found  even in the real world.  They have also added balance to the story by including some regular events outside of their pack activities such as Tory's social events for Cotillion and the inclusion of bad boy Chance, who I loved in the opening book of the series.  They have left a number of situations open for future books to resolve.

I listened to the unabridged audio book as read by Cristin Milioti.   10 hours 48 minutes.  Cristin does a great job of making the listeners believe that they are listening to a group of teens.  It's wonderful how she puts a whine in Hiram's voice and yet manages to add swagger to Chance.  The tale of the pack continues in the short story Shift and then in the novel Code. 

Virals Series
1   Virals
2   Seizure
2.5 Shift
3   Code

#IndigoEmployee

Cover image courtesy Penguin Random House Audio.

Needlework Tuesday - I Finally started Stitching

Last week I spent some time talking about prepping for a new project.  Well, that effort paid off.  I worked extra hours last week and I didn't think I would get any stitching done, then today, I had a bit of time before an appointment and figured I might get a couple of seams done.  Then later in the day, I have a bit more time while dinner was in the oven, a few more seams and some pressing.  Then after my walk, I fit in a bit more and before I knew it, I had those seams done and pressed and ready for more cutting.

 Each block in this quilt has two pieced borders, and since the pattern was written as a BOM - Block of the Month, the author had you cut and sew each border individually each month.  I decided instead to strip piece and cut them all this month.  So far I have 8 sets complete and will work on the next four.  I wasn't sure how many pieces I would be able to cut from the width of fabric strips.

This will form the outer border of each block.  I debated switching the blue and brown, but like it better with the emphasis of the brown toward the middle.  Now if I had pieced a block to show in the centre.  The first block has lots of flying geese.  They will be fun.

I got a wee bit of the black done on the afghan, but not enough to share a photo.  I'm looking forward to finishing and then daughter plans to take it to university for her room.  It will certainly be a colourful addition.

It was a glorious fall day today with temperatures more like early September.  I was out walking and didn't want to come back in.  I hope that you are have enjoyable weather where ever you find yourself.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I hope that you are having fun and  making progress on whatever project is dear to your heart at this moment.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your needlework post.

Needlework Tuesday - Prep Time Required

 I've had my fill of turkey this weekend though I could eat another slice of dairy free pumpkin pie.  Yes, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Canada yesterday.  My brother in law invited us to family dinner on Sunday and sent us home with ample left overs.  You might consider this overkill, but we had five pies (3 pumpkin, 1 apple and 1 blueberry) for dessert, but we found it was barely enough.  When I wasn't having dreams of turkey and pumpkin anything, I did do some stitching.

Instead of starting a new project, I added three more rounds to the afghan I have been crocheting.  I'm not very good with my tension, so the sides are getting a bit wonky.  It takes much stretching and prodding to get it to almost lie flat.  At this point, I am going to add some more black for an edging and call it big enough.

I ran into a slight problem with the scarf I have been knitting.  There was a knot tie during manufacturing. Unfortunately it interrupted a long colour repeat.  What to do. I couldn't continue as it was tied, it would have been an abrupt colour change.  Instead, I took the outside end of the ball and tied it to the cut end where i was working.  That's where the slightest bit of yellow shows near the middle of the photo.  In the end, it looks fine and no one will really care that the colour repeats on itself.

 Not sure where this one is destined, so it will sit in the scarf basket till a recipient is found.

I also spent some time prepping the materials for two projects.  First I washed and pressed all the cottons for the new quilt that I talked about last week.  It always takes longer than expected.  I like to wash all the sizing out and check for colour fastness. I have had some surprises with  magically shrinking fabrics as well as with serious bleeders. I'd rather get the surprises out of the way before I cut and start stitching.  I don't want to finish a quilt and then wash it and find the fabrics shrink unevenly or that the whites are now pinks.

Second, I washed the fabric for a new blouse.  I found a commercial pattern that accommodates larger bust sizes. Hopefully it sews up nicely and fits.  I'm tired of buying huge sizes so they are big enough around, and then end up with oversized neck and arm openings.  I haven't done much garment sewing in the past decade, so am  little out of practise.  It seems to take me ages to get the prep work done.  I'm sure it will be worth the effort so I don't mind.

It may seem like the prep work keeps you from starting a project, but in reality, it's what keeps a project flowing along nicely.  I do the same thing when cooking.  I read the recipe, get out and measure all the ingredients.  I line them up on the counter in the order the recipe calls for them and then I am ready to cook. It's so much easier when everything is prepared ahead of time; no last minute missing ingredients.  It works the same way with needlework.  Once I get everything ready, then I can enjoy the stitching.  There are some projects that I dive into and sort out the bits and pieces as I go, but they are the exception.

Do you plan and prep or do you dive right in???

 Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I hope that you are having fun and  making progress on whatever project is dear to your heart at this moment.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your needlework post.

The Prophet by Amanda Stevens

 Within pages of starting this book, I was caught back into Amelia's life even though it had been more than a year and half since I read the earlier books in the series.  I still find her job as a cemetary restorer fascinating. 

 I can see the need for such a profession when I walk past my local church and see the grave stones that were broken through the years, some by falling tree branches.

Some damage is much older and has been repaired.  I wonder whether some of the ghosts following Amelia are wanting her to tend to their memorial stones.

I like that author Amanda Stevens hasn't made the behaviour of all the ghosts the same.  She has maintained some aspects of their personalities and also allowed them to develop different levels of, shall we say, haunting skills.  I particularly like the ghost of Robert Fremont.  His haunting of Amelia takes a different tone than that of the others who trail her.

Once again Amelia is threatened from the other side.  All her life she has followed the rules her father established for dealing with ghosts, but now she questions whether this is the best approach. Perhaps it's time to engage rather than ignore.  I like of this change in approach and feel that it opens up so many more possibilities for story lines. Time to embrace the creepiness and make use of her eerie talent.


The Graveyard Queen Series:

0.5 The Abandoned

1. The Restorer
2. The Kingdom
3. The Prophet
4. The Visitor
5. The Sinner - released September 27, 2016
6. The Awakening - due out March 2017 

#IndigoEmployee

The Paper Princess by Erin Watt

Ella Harper is finding it tough to transition from a struggling orphan to the reluctant member of an extremely wealthy family whose sons  rule the private academy that they all attend.  She had intended to keep her head down and immerse herself in her studies, but she is distracted by Reed, one of  her gorgeous new brothers, and by the various bullies at her new school. 

Ella may be beautiful, but she is made of steel.  She is tough and knows how to take care of herself in most situations.  A ritzy school and an overbearing bunch of brothers may be overwhelming at first, but she has worked in tougher places and has come out fairly unscathed.

Reed and his brothers have no idea what to expect of Ella, and are confused as to why their father even brought her to live with them.  They are still hurting from the death of their beloved mother who was the glue that had held them together as a family.

What really stands out in this story, is the distrust between all the members of this expanded family.  They are all so wrapped up in their own dramas, that they don't communicate with each other.They rely on their own suspicions instead of having honest conversation with one another.  It's interesting to see how they slowly start to break down these barriers.

Due to the sexual nature of some passages, I would recommend this book for older, more mature teen readers.  I hope to learn that they become more of a family in the next book, The Broken Prince.

The Paper Princess is the brain child of authors Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick writing together as Erin Watt.

*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review*

#IndigoEmployee

Needlework Tuesday - The start of a new quilt.

 Throughout the summer, I went on a few shop hops with friends looking for the perfect fabrics for a quilt along.  I found a few fabrics but didn't find enough selection.  I gave up on that assortment and went in another direction.  That left me with several fabrics with no project to call home.  Then I went to my local guild meeting last week and they announced a block of the month program for the upcoming year.  With creative adjustments, I'd have enough for this new quilt only having to purchase a 'light' fabric.  The aqua and brown together will be a perfect fit in my bedroom.  I purchased a duvet cover at Ikea last year with just those colours.

I'm not sharing any hints as to the pattern yet, you'll have to wait until I do some sewing, but I can already tell you that I'll be making some small changes to the assembly method. Hope I have some time to sew over the upcoming Thanksgiving weekend. I'll be sure to take photos of the changes.

I have been knitting away at the scarf and am so close to finishing.  The skeins are mere skeletons and keep tangling as I put the yarn.  So exciting to be this close to done.  Pictures next week.

I wonder if psychologists have ever studied the effect on the brain of starting a new project.  I know that I am a serial starter.  I love the planning process and the selecting of supplies and making the first blocks/rows/sleeves (what have you), but I am not a finisher.  There must be some sweet chemical released in my brain when I start something.  I am quite capable of finishing, but I prefer starting. Or it could be possible that I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head, that the only way to get them out or calm them down is to start.  Even if scientists have studied this, it probably wouldn't change my behaviour, that's up to me.  As soon as I finish that scarf, I am going to pick up that almost completed one sitting by my feet and spend the hour or two and get it done before moving on to something else.   Okay, at least I think that's what I am going to do, but don't quote me on it.

Needlework Tuesday is a regular weekly post where I share the progress of my various needlework projects over the past week. I enjoy the encouragement that I receive from my readers and in return visit their blogs and cheer them on with theirs. You are welcome to grab the cute little mouse and create your own Needlework Tuesday post. Leave a comment with a link and I'll be sure to visit with you.

I hope that you are having fun and  making progress on whatever project is dear to your heart at this moment.  Mister Linky is waiting below for a link to your needlework post.