Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American Voices

DREAMING IN INDIAN                         LISA CHARLEYBOY & MARY LEATHERDALE

Dreaming in Indian: Contemporary Native American VoicesA powerful and visually stunning anthology from some of the most groundbreaking Native artists working in North America today.

Truly universal in its themes, "Dreaming In Indian" will shatter commonly held stereotypes and challenge readers to rethink their own place in the world. Divided into four sections, 'Roots, ' 'Battles, ' 'Medicines, ' and 'Dreamcatchers, ' this book offers readers a unique insight into a community often misunderstood and misrepresented by the mainstream media.

Emerging and established Native artists, including acclaimed author Joseph Boyden, renowned visual artist Bunky Echo Hawk, and stand-up comedian Ryan McMahon, contribute thoughtful and heartfelt pieces on their experiences growing up Indigenous, expressing them through such mediums as art, food, the written word, sport, dance, and fashion. Renowned chef Aaron Bear Robe, for example, explains how he introduces restaurant customers to his culture by reinventing traditional dishes. And in a dramatic photo spread, model Ashley Callingbull and photographer Thosh Collins reappropriate the trend of wearing 'Native' clothing.

Whether addressing the effects of residential schools, calling out bullies through personal manifestos, or simply citing hopes for the future, "Dreaming In Indian" refuses to shy away from difficult topics. Insightful, thought-provoking, and beautifully honest, this book will to appeal to young adult readers. An innovative and captivating design enhances each contribution and makes for a truly unique reading experience.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a book that is hard to describe but I was moved by most of the stories and I am not Native American. Most of the stories seemed to come from tribes from Canada, but they were still interesting and once you get into the book and allow the words to take over you can be moved and feel the stories touch you. I enjoyed this book very much. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 4 stars.

THE PERFECT KILL

THE PERFECT KILL                                   ROBERT B. BAER

The Perfect Kill: 21 Laws for AssassinsWhat is the definition of assassination? Robert B. Baer’s boss at the CIA once told him, “It’s a bullet with a man’s name on it.” Sometimes assassination is the senseless act of a psychotic, a bloodletting without social value. Other times, it can be the sanest and most humane way to change the course of conflict—one bullet, one death, case closed. Assassination has been dramatized by literature and politicized by infamous murders throughout history, and for Robert Baer, one of the most accomplished agents to ever work for the CIA, it’s a source of endless fascination, speculation, and intrigue.

Over several decades, Baer served as an operative, from Iraq to New Delhi and beyond; notably, his career was the model for the acclaimed movie Syriana. In The Perfect Kill, he takes us on a serpentine adventure through the history of political murder; its connections to, and differences from, the ubiquitous use of drones in state-sponsored killing; his firsthand experience with political executions; and his decades-long cat-and-mouse hunt, across the Middle East and Europe, for the most effective and deadliest assassin of the modern age. A true maverick with an undeniably captivating personal story, Baer pulls back the curtain on the underbelly of world politics and the quiet murderers who operate on the fringe of our society.
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
For me this book reads more as a history book or as modern history book on attacks or assignations on individuals in the Middle East. Some of the stories you should remember and he does offer some insight to a few of these but mainly I felt this book lacking some. A little slow in places and not overall what I was expecting. But the history part of the Middle East was good information and helpful. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 3 stars.

MELTING INTO YOU

MELTING INTO YOU                                  LAURA TRENTHAM

Melting Into You (Falcon Football, #3)Alec Grayson returns home to Falcon, Alabama, to rebuild his life after a knee injury ended his NFL career. As the Falcon high school quarterback coach, Alec's love for the game is reignited. Meanwhile, he puts his hard-partying past and the betrayal of the people he trusted most behind him, and adopts a hard demeanor. That is, until a spitfire artist with soulful eyes and a body that haunts his dreams gets under his skin and threatens to crack his armor.

Lilliana Hancock is forced to leave her struggling-artist lifestyle in New York and return to Falcon after her father's unexpected death leaves her a decrepit family mansion. Determined to use her skills to turn the home into a successful bed and breakfast, Lilliana is stopped at every turn by the town contractor, who happens to be Alec, the gorgeous and arrogant jock to whom she lost her virginity in college. Except Alec doesn't remember, which infuriates her. Too bad she can't forget the way his body felt against hers or how his heated gaze follows her...

Will they be able to put their pasts behind them for a future together?

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is the third book in the series and like the other two it takes places in Falcon Alabama. Lilliana Hancock, is home taking over the Hancock house that her father left her after his passing. She is trying to turn it into a bed & breakfast but with funds being low she can only do repairs and upgrades little by little. Her income is still her art and by doing work and then shipping them back to New York. Alec Grayson, was a football star at the University of Alabama and then a NFL quarterback until a hit blew out his knee and put him on the sideline permanently. He now owns his own construction company and works as the county building inspector, he is also the quarterbacks coach for the high school football team. He also has a huge chip on his shoulder that makes him live alone. Lilliana is attracted to him and has been since her freshman year at Alabama and he was the star quarterback and older. After a big game and at a frat party she gives herself to him but he tells her to grab her cloths and leave. To make matters worse now after all of these years later he does not even remember her or their brief time together. But she has gotten past him and actually thanks him in her mind because the next year she left Alabama, to follow her dream and went to New York art school, and lived there until her father gave her the house. As the two of the sort out relationship he is also working on trying to help the quarterback of the team with his home life. His twin brother has gotten into dealing drugs and running with a gang and now it is effecting his brother who is looking at scholarships, and being able to get out of Falcon. Lilliana ends up helping because of their relationship and because Alec is so self-absorbed she almost gets herself into major trouble until he realizes that he needs to get out of himself and take a chance if he wants to have a life. But will she take him back? This is another good story in the series and you don’t need to read the other books to be caught up. A good book. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 4 stars. 

PLAYING WITH FIRE

PLAYING WITH FIRE                                 KATE MEADER

Playing with Fire (Hot in Chicago, #2)As the only female firefighter at Engine Co. 6, Alexandra Dempsey gets it from all sides: the male coworkers who think she can’t do the job, the wives and girlfriends who see her as a threat to their firefighter men, and her overprotective foster brothers who want to shelter their baby sister at all costs. So when she single-handedly saves the life of Eli Cooper, Chicago’s devastatingly handsome mayor, she assumes the respect she’s longed for will finally come her way. But it seems Mr. Mayor has other ideas…

Eli Cooper’s mayoral ratings are plummeting, his chances at reelection dead in the water. When a sexy, curvaceous firefighter gives him the kiss of life, she does more than bring him back to the land of the living—she also breathes vitality into his campaign. Riding the wave of their feel-good story might prop up Eli’s flagging political fortunes, but the sizzling attraction between them can go nowhere; he’s her boss, and there are rules that must be obeyed. But you know what they say about rules: they’re made to be broken…
 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Alexandra Dempsey, is a female firefighter for a fire house in Chicago. She is the only female in her house number 6 and she does not take any guff from any one. Including the mayor or the man who is a millionaire and she destroyed his car getting him out when he started in on her rescuing him and her being a female and other derogatory names. She then decided to take the roof off of his sport car when they almost had the door pried open. That puts her in the news but makes her also someone now everyone in Chicago is a where of including the mayor. The mayor Eli Cooper is looking for reelection after his four year term. He is totally attracted to Alexandra, to the point of showing up at the same place where she is on a date with a detective who ends up leaving after the mayor says some choice words to him. When she realizes that she is attracted to him as well she still cannot bring herself to go out with him for the things he has done while being mayor, one is doing away with pensions for firefighters, and police. Then as his luck would have it she responds to a fire with her engine company #6, and during this fire she ends up rescuing the mayor. This works in his favor as he turns it around on her along with another lie and they end up going out a few times and she finds out that she is attracted to him and then she realizes that she is actually in love with him. He on the other hand has his own secrets and does not tell them to her but other people bring them out and she cannot deal with him or the politics. When the day before the election he finally tells the city of Chicago the truth about his father which he really did for her. He now wonders if she will come back to him and they can start again. You need to read the book to find out if they get back together and if he wins or loses the election. A good story overall, I did find the middle part a little slow but maybe that was just me. Overall a good book. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 4 stars.

Rock and a Heart Place: A Rock 'n' Roller-coaster Ride from Rebellion to Sweet Salvation

ROCK AND A HEART PLACE                      KEN MANSFIELD & MARSHALL TERRILL

Rock and a Heart Place: A Rock 'n' Roller-coaster Ride from Rebellion to Sweet SalvationRock and a Heart Place traces the rise, fall, and redemption of famous entertainers who were brought to their knees a great place to meet God. Join award-winning producer and music executive Ken Mansfield and biographer Marshall Terrill on a spiritual journey down the secluded halls of the music industry. Rock and a Heart Place is your backstage pass to never before-heard secrets, stories, and testimonies from some of rock music's greatest legends including members of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Collective Soul, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Grand Funk Railroad, Kansas, Korn, Ozzy Osbourne, Pointer Sisters, Prince, The Ronettes, and The Turtles.

ARTISTS FEATURED (hardcover edition) 

MARK VOLMAN was cofounder of The Turtles, a 1960s pop-rock band that has sold more than forty million records. He was also a core member of Frank Zappa’s The Mothers of Invention and the dynamic duo Flo & Eddie. 

RUTH POINTER is one of the legendary Pointer Sisters who scored dozens of hits in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, and sold close to forty million records, making them one of the most successful female groups of all time. 

BRIAN "HEAD" WELCH is the lead guitarist for the nu metal band Korn. In addition to chart-topping, million-selling records and two GRAMMY awards, their shows fill up arenas and stadiums worldwide. 

CHRIS HILLMAN helped define the country rock genre by his groundbreaking work with The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Manassas, and the Desert Rose Band. 

JOHN ELEFANTE was the lead singer of the multi platinum-selling Kansas from 1981 to 1985 and wrote two of their highest charting singles. After leaving Kansas, he became one of the most successful Christian producers of all time. 

RUDY SARZO has been a professional recording artist for more than thirty years and a member of Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot, Whitesnake, Blue Oyster Cult, Yngwie Malmsteen, and DIO. 

England Dan & JOHN FORD COLEY waved the soft-rock banner loudly in the 1970s, releasing several platinum and gold records in their decade-long partnership and Top 10 hits that are staples of classic rock radio today. 

With DEZ DICKERSON at his side from 1978 to 1983, Prince became a household name, selling more than one hundred million albums, earning seven Grammys, a Golden Globe, and an Academy Award. 

SHANE EVANS of Collective Soul dominated 1990s rock and alternative radio, charting an astounding seven number-one hits, nineteen Top 40 singles, and ten million in worldwide sales. 

NEDRA ROSS and The Ronettes were the first bad girls of rock and roll, racially indefinable, and one of the most exciting acts of their era, ruling the airwaves in the early ’60s with a string of girl-group classics and mini rock operas. 

RICHIE FURAY of Buffalo Springfield was a major catalyst for the 1960s country folk rock sound. Richie's repeat performance as cofounder of Poco carried on this tradition of great music. 

MARK FARNER of Grand Funk Railroad earned eleven consecutive RIAA Gold/Platinum Record Awards from 1969 to 1975. They surpassed The Beatles in record sales in 1970. 

Artists featured exclusively in the e-book are:

JERRY NAYLOR is a sixty-year veteran of the music scene and the former lead singer of The Crickets. Naylor witnessed the birth of rock and roll with fellow innovators Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, and Waylon Jennings—all changing the face of popular music.

RICK CUA of The Outlaws helped create the Southern rock sound of the ’70s. In its heyday the band played major stadiums and arenas, reveling in the rock and roll lifestyle that included limos, charted planes, and the crazy fan scene.

CHUCK GIRARD was a valuable pioneer in the California sound of the early 1960s and contemporary Christian music of the 1970s. In his teens, Girard formed The Castells, which had two Top 20 hits. A decade later he formed Love Song, the first mainstream Christian rock band.

KEN HENSLEY of Uriah Heep is regarded as one of the seminal hard-rock acts of the early 1970s. Extremely popular in Europe, the Heep are considered by music historians as one of “The Big Four” of hard rock with sales of more than forty million albums worldwide.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This not a book about how they got into music or rock and roll. It is showing how their lives went from being raised one way to leaving that path finding music and becoming successful, but then then finding themselves lost, alone, or just lacking some type of guidance in their life and were tired of being on the cycle of self-destruction. You have artists from the 60’s up to today’s hard rock. Even female artists one from the Pointer sisters which was a heart breaking for I remember listening to them but knowing all of the other things that they were going through. The lead guitarist from Korn Brian “Head” Welch, because he is from Bakersfield. His story really touched me because he had a little girl at the time and his ex was into the same stuff as him and he knew he needed help not only to save himself but to save his daughter as well. That was a very moving chapter for me. Not diminishing the other stories in the book just stating for my review. I don’t think it matters what generation you are from because once you know the song you will understand the person behind it, either by their band or by their name. this is a good book. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 4 stars.

PLAYING A PLAYER

PLAYING A PLAYER                                   IVY SMOAK

Playing A PlayerKeira's last single friend just got married, leaving her roommate-less. When Rory shows up at her door for an interview, she's more than a little surprised to find out that a guy has answered her ad. Living with a man wasn't exactly what she had in mind. But when all the other applicants don't seem to be a good fit, she can't help but let her mind wander back to Rory. Maybe he's exactly the kind of roommate she needs. 

Rory doesn't do relationships. He's been burned before. He hasn't had anything more than a one night stand in a long time. And he's good at what he does. He's charming, confident, and completely off limits. 

Keira can't get her mind off of him. Will she be able to learn how to play a player? Or will she be the one that ends up getting played?

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
Keira, is looking for a new roommate her last one moved out to get married, and that was also her last single friend. The first person who answers her ad is a good looking man named Rory. She is attracted to him but does not want him as a roommate. She has a few more interviews but they do not go so well, so now she goes to the restaurant he works at and says yes to him moving in. She is not ready for her emotions and feelings towards him and for his two friends who always seem to be over at the apartment. The three of them like to tease her because she blushes real easy, and when she get nervous she starts ramble and say things that she shouldn’t. Once they find this out about her it is like game on, but at the same time they all like her and Rory tells his friends to back off. After two different nights of listen to him and the different women he was with she decides to write him a letter, but instead of giving him the letter she forwards it to her editor at the paper she works for and they decide to have her do a series of articles about a women trying to break a player. Once she has the guy though she needs to come up with a way to tell him about the articles and before she could do that it was brought out by someone else. She is still having issues of self-esteem because of former boyfriends and though he has been trying to give her more confidence though fears come back. This is a good book with a little romance some good steamy sex scenes and a love story that is a little different than most. You need to read the book to find out if they can make it work. A good book. I got this book from netgalley.   I give this 4 stars.

SNOWFLAKE BAY #2

SNOWFLAKE BAY                                        DONNA KAUFFMAN

Snowflake Bay by Donna KauffmanThere’s no place like seaside Blueberry Cove, Maine, at Christmas—and there’s nothing like a wedding, the warmth of the holidays, and an old crush, to create the perfect new start…

Interior designer Fiona McCrae has left fast-paced Manhattan to move back home to peaceful Blueberry Cove. But she’s barely arrived before she’s hooked into planning her big sister Hannah’s Christmas wedding—in less than seven weeks. The last thing she needs is for her first love, Ben Campbell, to return to neighboring Snowflake Bay…

As kids, Fiona was the bratty little sister Ben mercilessly teased—while pining after Hannah. But Fi never once thought of Ben like a brother. And that hasn’t changed. Except Fi is all grown up. Will Ben notice her now? More importantly, with her life in a jumble, should he? Or might the romance of the occasion, the spirit of the season, and the gifts of time ignite a long-held flame for many Christmases to come…

Something old might just become something new…

Includes a DIY wedding project!
 
MY REVIEW:

     We have all had a mad crush at one time or another.  When it’s your older brother’s best friend.  Yet, he was also like their big brother.  Ben Campbell was at their home as much as his own with her brother in tow.  When he was at her house he was there to pine over her older sister Hannah.  He called Fiona “Fireplug Fi,” the bratty little sister always giving as good as she got.  Yet, Kerry the real youngest sister and supper pest of the family he babies to no end.  Finding a kindred spark in Ben, who’d teased her and ruffled her hair, yet it was always in an affectionate, sort of admiring, you-go-girl kind of way. For her not so much she was the short, fat, red face younger sister.
     The whole time he never saw her, Fiona McCrae, who was really only four years younger than he was but it may as well have been a hundred.  All he ever thought of up until the day he left for college was Hannah.  That was the day she decided to put her feelings away for Ben.  Which became very easy since he never came home to hometown which was inland from where their family’s lighthouse stood in Blueberry Cove, Maine.  He only did holidays but not on the days so she had free rein to come and go to the family functions.
     Fiona was now on her way to her childhood home it appears another sibling was getting married and she was being put in charge of this one too.  This one would be easier since she has been back in the Cove for a month now.  But since she did such a good job of her brother Logan’s and Alex’s wedding she was now in charge of Hannah’s.  No not to Ben.  She really didn’t want to do this wedding she really wanted to get started on her life in the cove and she needed to put her plan together.  When she arrived at the house she was layered in clothes and trying to untangle when she heard someone behind her say something like, “You caught there?”  She froze.  Then gets her by the shoulders and turns her around.  She closes her eyes as tight as she can to ward off the fact that the man she hadn’t seen in years was now trying to untangle her scarf.  When she opens her eyes she won’t even look at him.
     His nickname not only angered her it embarrassed her because she knew at any moment he would use it and he did.  To him she would always be too short, fat, curly haired, and the little pesky sister of his best friend.  So, she squared her shoulders and gave it back to him.  Why disappoint.
     Can she be anything other than “Fireplug Fi” to him?  Would she want him now if he finally saw her?  Would he want her even if he did see her as a woman?  All good questions.  This family saga and oh so funny love story talks to how bullies even well-meaning ones can hurt you.  Not to mention it talks to the fact that families small or large are all important.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.  Follow us at:

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A BRAMBLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS #6

A BRAMBLE HOUSE CHRISTMAS           C J CARMICHAEL

A Bramble House Christmas by C.J. CarmichaelFinn Knightly a.k.a. Finn Conrad wants to know why his recently deceased father left his nurse fifty thousand dollars after knowing her a mere six weeks. So he travels to Bramble House B&B in Marietta, Montana to find answers.
But Willa Fairchild is not the conniving woman he expects to find. Before he knows it, Willa-and her six-year-old son Scout-are stealing his heart. And that’s before he finds out Scout’s secret and the real reason this Christmas is so important.

MY REVIEW:
     Willa Fairchild and her son Scout were on their way from Bozeman airport in a snowstorm.  Which for people who live in Montana or snow country it was easy but for someone from Arizona not so much.
     The thing she didn’t know is she was being followed by the son of the patient that arranged this whole Christmas adventure getaway.  Finn (Knightly) Conrad.  You see Willa is an RN and took care of Ben, Finn’s father, the last six weeks of his life.  Or at least she was one of three nurses.  In the will his father left the other two nurses $5000.00 but left Willa $50,000.00.  His ex-wife who was already bitter about the divorce and his three daughters want answers as to why he did that?  Finn’s mother is forcing the issue and him to find out the answers.  So, hence he is following Willa.
     So, to shut them up he agrees on sight he doesn’t believe she could do anything they may have thought at first.  He knows he has to follow through and follows her to the B & B in Marietta.  Finn had researched the Bramble House B & B in Marietta, Montana and found out it had made the national spotlight.  Last year for the country music artist, John Urban, he announced on TV that he planned to go there for Christmas.  So he couldn’t figure out why this place?  Maybe she had family in town?  Friends?  His next thought was, “Well, with the money his father left her she could afford it.”  Then he felt bad.
     Finn in a lot of ways was glad someone kind and who cared about his father was there with him at the end.  Yet, he still had family who were counting on him to get answers.  When he meets the owners he is taken aback by their open, kind, and cheerfulness.  Yet, it feels right.  He seems to be fighting with all the emotions including grief.  The next morning when he comes down to the dining room he gets a cup of coffee and ponders his first meeting with Scout and Willa in passing to his room.  Scout was a happy cheerful boy of 6 years and Willa was polite but you could see sadness and a guarding behind her eyes.  As he’s staring out he sees Scout and Willa rolling extra-large snowballs for a snowman.  Willa takes selfies of them with the snowman and still there is a sadness.
     When the two come in breakfast is served when Aunt Mable the original owner of the house notices the ring on her finger being the exact same as one in a tin picture Eliza had on one of the Christmas trees at the B & B.  One of their family members is wearing it.  She ask to see it.  As soon as Finn sees it he is filled with anger.  He calms himself and then asks, “Where did you get that?”  She explains how she cared for a sweet patient who was alone when he passed.  They had become good friends.  How one day he was holding the ring and she mentioned how beautiful it was.  He told the story of how he had given it to his ex-wife and she never liked it and neither did his daughters.  So, he just gave it to her and asked her to wear it often and to remember him.  Finn choked back emotion then said, “Are you in the habit in receiving expensive gifts from your patients?”  Causing Willa’s spine to straighten and to be curt with him saying, “NO!”
     This was an interesting book of secrets revealed, history found, and love that is unfolded in a town of Christmas cheer and loving people.  Can Willa keep her secret to Scout?  Can Finn find what he needs or will it be what he never knew he wanted?  Will Scout find the adventure of a lifetime as well as a reason to believe again along with his mom?  Read to find out.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.

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