Hello World

Hiya folks! I'm back to join the living! Since my last post my knee got worse, not better, and I had to be transfered to a specialist... who suggested surgery. I had arthoscopic knee surgery to repair the capsule that surrounds my knee cap on May 21, 2013. Since that point I have been off of work, and will be through July 30, 2013. I have a lot of struggles and questions of identity throughout this period and while I feel far from being on steady ground... I think I'm ready to start blogging again.

I will admit I checked out there for a while. I didn't read books I could review -- it was all motivational or faith/ spiritual scripture. But just as I am learning to walk again.. I'm learning to enjoy reading again.

I can't promise it will be often, or if I'll do reviews in the beginning, but I'd like to post a weekly round up for my own sanity. To feel I've accomplished something while I am recuperating, and as my incentive for motivation.

Be seeing you...

Happy Healing,

Senator

Out of Hiding

Remember the last time I hinted about my knee? That Monday it took a turn for the worst and I experienced something I never could have imagined: pain so bad I could barely walk.

And was promptly taken off of work.

I'm not going to lie, the last two weeks have been a roller coaster. I didn't know how to express what I've been going through. I didn't know what to say, how to say it, how to believe in myself.

It's only now that I'm on the mend that I am properly able to convey my emotional pain. The inability to walk (although temporarily) cut me down a few and the fact that I wasn't working exacerbated my crumbling self-confidence. The physical pain was (is) certainly still a factor and also didn't help things, but once that was an afterthought -- about 3-4 days now -- the real healing began.

I want to quell any concerns about my knee. It needs NO SURGERY  (yay!) and all that happened was that I damaged the cartilage under my knee cap. Physical therapy has been a God-send and just today I was promoted from crutches to a cane!

Me, at 25.
Original found at: http://dreamstime.com/

It's been a journey so far and it's not over yet. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but I am grateful for the experience. It taught me to be more patient, to really take care of myself and listen to my body.

Even if that means using a flipping cane when I walk.


Happy Healing,

Senator

Review: Prom & Prejudice

Summary: Lizzie Bennet is the scholarship student at the prodigious Longbourn Academy for girls. It hasn't been easy transferring into junior year but her friends Jane and Charlotte have helped her through a semester. Now Jane's beau, Charles Bingley, is back from a semester abroad and he's brought his good friend Will Darcy. Lizzie might have been able to endure this far, but with prom the social event of the school will Lizzie be able to survive school, the music recital, Darcy drama, and find a date for prom (not that she cares)?

Review: My favorite of the Once Upon a Time series, Dokey weaves many tales into one main story creating a highly enjoyable experience for readers. Told in an old style narrative, readers are instantly enchanted by the first line all the way to the last. A quick, easy read The Storyteller's Daughter is perfect for those who like the "happily ever after" with more to characters than meets the eye.


Formats: e-book, mass market, library binding

Senator Recommends:

Review: Dead Men Kill

Summary (from Goodreads): When several of the city's most respected citizens are inexplicably killed by what appear to be zombies, all Detective Terry Lane has to go on is a blue grey glove, a Haitian pharmacy bill for some very unusual drugs and a death threat from a mysterious stranger. Matters are soon complicated when a beautiful nightclub singer shows up who claims to have information that could solve the case, but whose motives are plainly suspect. Against his better judgment, Terry investigates her lead only to find himself sealed in a coffin en route to the next zombie murder—his own.

Review: Dead Men Kill was not what I was expecting and, thus, knocked me on my behind when it was deemed dead men really do kill. It quickly went from being an interesting curiosity to science fiction suspense. If the later is your thing and you would like to explore the fantastic with a slant to days-gone-past, pick Dead Men Kill for a quick saucy read to excite your day. If, however, you (like I) did not previously connect L. Ron Hubbard the author of this book to L. Ron Hubbard of sci-fi fame/ Dianetics & Scientology and are looking for a gritty detective novel, look to Raymond Chandler and the great Phillip Marlowe.


Formats: e-book, paperback, audiobook

Senator Recommends:

Book Review: Kundalini Meditation: The Path to Personal Transformation and Creativity

Summary (from Goodreads): Kundalini meditation unleashes the life force that exists in us all, allowing it to flow through each of the seven chakras. It's a hot trend that awakens our inspiration and insight; allays destructive anxieties and doubts; and helps us feel at one with the divine. This enlightening guide shows, in guided stages, how to become aware of the energy channels running along the spinal cord and which purification rituals, poses, positions, and breathing exercises open you up. Special guided meditations target common problems such as depression and anger.


Review: A thorough and easy introduction into Kundalini meditation, Kathryn McCuster has created a stellar book. The origin and history of Kundalini is included, broken up by pictures to avoid being dull. Informative and well written, “Kundalini Meditation” is perfect for the novice wanting to begin or expand their daily practice. Highly recommended!

Thank you Watkins Publishing Limited and NetGalley for an e-ARC. 

Formats: e-book, paperback

Livnam Kaur Recommends:

Livnam Kaur is a spiritual intuitive, Reiki and IET® master teacher, IKYTA Kundalini yoga teacher, and Ayurveda Wellness Practitioner. She focuses on empowering individuals through the process of spiritual counseling. This counseling opens up the channels of spiritual communication, guiding a person to turn within and partner with Spirit to find their highest healing path.

Review: The Storyteller's Daughter

Summary (from Goodreads): In a faraway kingdom, a king has been betrayed. Deeply hurt and bitterly angry, he vows never to be deceived again. Unfortunately, the king's plan to protect himself will endanger all of the realm's young women, unless one of them will volunteer to marry the king — and surrender her life.


To everyone's relief and horror, one young woman steps forward. The daughter of a legendary storyteller, Shahrazad believes it is her destiny to accept this risk and sacrifice herself.


On the night of her wedding to the king, Shahrazad begins to weave a tale. Fascinated, the king lets her live night after night. Just when Shahrazad dares to believe that she has found a way to keep her life — and an unexpected love — a treacherous plot will disrupt her plan. Now she can only hope that love is strong enough to save her.

Review: My favorite of the Once Upon a Time series, Dokey weaves many tales into one main story creating a highly enjoyable experience for readers. Told in an old style narrative, readers are instantly enchanted by the first line all the way to the last. A quick, easy read The Storyteller's Daughter is perfect for those who like the "happily ever after" with more to characters than meets the eye.


Formats: e-book, mass market, library binding

Senator Recommends:

Review: Unremembered (#1)

Summary (from Goodreads): The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe. 

Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them. 

Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

Review: Unremembered is one of those books that will knock you on your butt, in the best possible ways. Brody has stepped out of her normal contemporary novels to create a sci-fi gem. Readers will be enthralled as they go, each chapter adding and revealing another layer. Enthralling, with a dash of romance Unremembered is a must read for 2013!


Formats: e-book, hardcover

Senator Recommends: