Black Kindle - The Asylum folks are back, but first BOOKS.

Well, well, well.  You know I had to keep up with my "Asylum" folks.  Has anything major changed? Oh, yes, a few drama episodes, but that's to be expected.  I may no longer work there, but a few keep me in the loop.  I will update you later, right now I need to get back into the groove to sell and post my reviews of books.

All of my reviews are posted on my blog, Amazon, Goodreads and any other places I can find.

I must be in a "I'm going to fulfill my dream" phase.  The next three books are really about leaving the negative behind, following your dreams, mentoring someone else, and keeping the faith:

MICHAEL BAISDEN - RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU HAVE ISSUES - $9.99 - - - As a fan of his radio/TV show, I did enjoy how he took the mallet and hammered serious issues that not only affected African Americans, but everyone.  I did at times, though, get tired of his show on some sexual issues and nasty comedy stands.  They were OK, but annoying at times.  Then again, I'm not really a radio person.  I listen to my music or pod casts on my iPod and read lots of books.

Baisden's book is a first class, first rate book for all people, especially black folks.  Why we have not learned yet to stop having babies that we cannot take care of, still baffles me.   Baisden also has an issue with men who cheat on their women and the dumb women who take it.  We all have issues, but in 2014, damn, we need to learn and get with the program or something.

How many more "Toxic" people are we going to cling to?  If you have a dream to start a business, you need a mentor and good friend, not a dream killer. Why cheat on each other?  Do you really think you are not going to get caught?  Of course you are, you are stupid. What's wrong with being single?  Isn't it better than being with a nut case.  

Get the book.  Get it now.  This is how we should live, without crazy and unfocused issues and facing the truth. You can be some body. You can raise great children. You can survive an economic downturn.  You will get married to the right person. Stop blaming others and look in the mirror.  You are beautiful and You are smart, especially if you buy this book. Last chapter of the book - Finding Your Purpose.  Find it.
  
Raise Your Hand If You Have Issues

Let's move on to money.  A HUGE topic:

GWEN RICHARDSON - WHY AFRICAN AMERICANS CAN'T GET AHEAD: AND HOW WE CAN SOLVE IT WITH GROUP ECONOMICS - $2.99 - - Now, once you find out you have issues and how to solve them, then move on to this book.  

As you are aware, we have lost Borders, Waldens and over 200 African American Bookstores in the last 10 years. OK, I got it, you are not a big reader, but if you can shop in Walmart for the basics and also shop at J. Crew or Neiman Marcus for that $200.00 dress.  Pay $500.00 for a weave like Beyonce's and $2,000 for car rims to a car you brought from the high interest rate dealer with a 10 year car note, I think you can take $20 to $50 a month and buy black. 

As Richardson's book states chapter to chapter, we spend more money on things that we don't need and don't last from people who don't care and yet, we don't support our local African American businesses. 

Also, some African American Entrepreneurs should support us by providing excellent customer service.  I went into a small black book store in New York and asked the clerk at the counter, who was painting her nails ever color in the rainbow, about a particular book.  After she stopped for a moment to blow her nails, she did not know the author, but in a minute could look it up for me.  Excuse me?  I left.  Lousy service from a badly weaved, gum smacking women.  You see what I mean.  Where's the excellent customer service.  I'll stop venting now.

The book is 144 pages long, very easy to read and understand without the "economic" jargon that can lose you. She provides a concise history of slavery, civil rights, education or the lack of it.  Political repercussions, land once owned by blacks were stolen, and the Black Church.  All of that and more has an impact, but we can turn the tables and bring back black.  Put first thing first - Education, Development of character, a trade or a business of your own and home ownership.  Most important, as Michael Baisden also stated in his book, stop expecting some one else to do for you.  Do it yourself. When you get to the chapter called, "Wisdom from Nannie Helen Burroughs," you will understand. Great, great and superlative book.  

Why African Americans Can't Get Ahead: And How We Can Solve It With Group Economics

JON ACUFF - START: PUNCH FEAR IN THE FACE, ESCAPE AVERAGE AND DO WORK THAT MATTERS - $9.99 - - - Now that we have faced our issues, begun buying black, even a little bit, let's now face the fear that we cannot pull ourselves up and over that mountain and get paid doing it.

As a Dave Ramsey fan, I found his book listening to one of Ramsey's pod casts.  The premise is to just start.  Write down all that you want to do. Do you want to start a business? Have a better relationship with your friends, family and children.  Do you want a better job.  Find what works for you and not some one else.  Find something in your community - coaching little league, dance or piano classes. Become a mentor - Michael Baisden - Mentoring Brothers or General Colin L. Powell Mentoring program.  Get off your issues, solve your issues, buy black and get positive and stay positive.  You just got to start.  I know, I know, this may seem like another "get groovy dude" book, it is.  What do you have to lose - Nothing.

Start: Punch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work That Matters

Black Kindle - Another Adventure!!!

NUMBER 176

Getting back to my "Dave Ramsey" adventure.  Since I was hanging around Simpsonville, SC, Tommy and I decided to continue our trip and head to Greenville, SC.  It really is about 10 to 15 minutes away, so why not.

I drove around the Haywood Road Area with it’s restaurants and retail stores, then to their downtown area with art galleries.  It was a very nice stroll through a beautiful city with quaint places to see and great food.  I took my time and walked and talked to complete strangers.  My mother thinks that is the worst habit to have, to look up at people in the eye and say hi.  

I think the South Carolina mentality has gotten to me, but I've been that way since I was a kid. Why not say, "Good morning" or "Hi."  My grandmother use to tell me that if "I ain't got no manners, then keep my damn mouth shut."  I got manners.

While sitting at a local restaurant with Tommy on a tight leash, he has a habit of jumping and barking at men.  I think it's because he grew up around women and don't trust men. Sometimes I can't blame him.  I overheard three women sitting next to me talking about books and bookstores. When one of them mentioned, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: A Novel by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows - $8.34, one of my all time favorites.  My usually self jumped in the conversation with a quote from the book.  The women talking looked at me, which made me think, oh, oh, I done stepped on someones toes again, one of them said, "You must really love that book."  

Well, it was on and I had made three new friends.  Not just new friends, but bookstore owner friends.  They were in Greenville looking for a place to open their bookstore. I got so excited and screamed that people walking in and out of the store, thought I was some nut case in the street or having a heart attack.  I joined their party and we talked and talked until it got dark. Two had to return home in Greenville and the other, Tricia, returned back to the hotel to have dinner with her husband.  They invited me to dinner.  I told them I wish I could join them, but at last, I had Tommy with me.  They said fine, we have our two dogs with us too.  There's a doggie day care down the street, which I proceeded to take Tommy there for a few hours and we had the best conversation and dinner.

I returned home later that evening with the biggest smile on my face.  They, the two women and Tricia, asked me if I wish to help them open the store.  What!!! Really!!!  Are you serious!!! Please don't play with me!!! Are you really, really, serious.  They just kept looking at me and laughing stating over and over again, "Is she a serious book lover or what!"  I am, what I am, A wholehearted, devoted book lover."   

All I did for days after that was smile and smile more.  What an adventure I had and will have over the next few months. I volunteered at the Dave Ramsey show, found a new city to hang out in, and met my destiny, helping to open a bookstore. Something in my spirit is telling me that 2014 will be the best: 

GOD, I need you to help me rewire my body, my heart, my mind, and my relationships so that the rest of my life is the best of my life. In Jesus' name, Amen!!!!

On to what GOD has placed in me - BOOKS and more BOOKS:

Remember when I posted my review of KILLER LIBRARIAN - MARY LOU KIRWIN - $6.83. In our last episode, Karen got dumped by boyfriend on they way to London.  In London, she decides to continue with the trip alone, she meets the good looking owner of the B&B, Caldwell, and of course finds murder.  It's solved and everything ends happily every after, until she returns to London and run into another murder.  I got the second book.  

DEATH OVERDUE - MARY LOU KIRWIN - $9.73 - - - You know once she returned to her humble job as a Librarian, she had dreams of Caldwell and the adventures in London.  Well, lord and behold, Caldwell shows up at her job and asked her if she wanted another adventure - Come back to London and help him open a bookstore.  

What woman would take that risk?  Me for one.  Karen returns to London with Caldwell. Maybe they will get married or not, but she is being cautious taking a short leave of absence from her job to find out. While they are getting to know each other and possibly become business partners in the bookstore, they begin their days of romance, reading books and searching for the perfect place to open their store,  Sally, Caldwell's first girlfriend shows up. Not many people like her any way.  She is also the one who left him with the B&B, returns.  She is also killed by a bookcase.  Get it, "a bookcase."  Well, it is a little unique. What was Sally doing in the library any way?  She is not a reader.

Caldwell is charged with the murder and now Karen has to find the killer.  The book is filled with the usually "Agatha Christie" nut characters, but I love them and enjoyed the book,  It was not as exciting as the first, but, it was still good cozy murder reading.  

Death Overdue (Librarian Mysteries)

In early December, a few of my BookClubGroupies went to see Omar Tyree.  I have followed that author since his very first book, Capital City.  I remember when I met OMAR TYREE at a the Black Expo in Washington, DC.  Not only was he fine, but so intelligent and promoting his book, CAPITAL CITY: THE CHRONICLES OF A D.C. UNDERWORLD - $12.95 paperback.  I fell in love with this book.  It is all about my hometown, at the time it was called "Chocolate City" and the young black men trying to make money fast with the drug game.  That game has changed dramatically.  With all of the urban books out now, that old school world will never be the same again.  Still a great book to give to young women and men. I'm going back to re-read it. 
Capital City

When he came out with FLY GIRL - $6.83, that's when I fell in love with Omar. The story of Tracy from her sixth birthday party in 1977 to her 17th birthday. Tracy grows up in the middle-class Philadelphia suburb of Germantown. The daughter of a pharmacist and a dietitian, she is pretty and intelligent, armed with solid self-esteem and a sassy mouth. Like most of her friends, she's also boy crazy, and readers watch as her physical maturation leads to increasing sexual activity. While experiencing the indulgent, hip-hop 1980s and the insidious effects of the cocaine economy that flourishes in black communities, Tracy must also come to terms with her parents' separation. 

This second book of his, written in a language that I understood living in DC, reminded me of another author, who also spoke to me, Terry McMillan.  The conversations between the young people trying to figure out their sexuality with words and phases that I’m sure you understand, at times made me feel a little left out, but kind of comfortable because I understood what they were saying.  Some books when you read them you don’t quite know how it relates to you, your family and friends.  It does.  It was real and to the point.  Some areas were sketchy and some of the cussing was not needed, but the point came across.  Get the book and remember your past.
Flyy Girl

WELCOME TO DUBAI (The Traveler) - $6.12 - - - I think we have ourselves a new James Bond.  A handsome Black James Bond.  

When I saw Omar Tyree again in December, I was so proud of they way he has developed his writing style and moved on to another entirely different subject.  He is still trying to get one or two of his books made into movies.  He is also struggling, as with most serious fiction writers, to get away from the hard core urban novels.  

You see people, we don't buy enough African American books.  We "borrow" them from our friends.  Read it and say it was "the bomb," but the author does not get any credit. Give the author his/her due.  Buy their books, write a comment on Amazon, Goodreads or my blog.  Help them get and stay on the New York Times Book review and other posting of books.  Buy them at you local small business bookstore.  We have got to keep them going or we will lose out.

Unfortunately at the Books A Million in Columbia, SC for Omar, only 15 people showed up.  I realize that the weather was bad and that this was a strip mall, which means you were outside, but give me a freaking break.  We needed more people there to support him.  I'm glad we made it.  

Here's Amazon's book description.  My review will come up soon:

When American Gary Stevens decides to explore the immaculate tourism haven of Dubai in the Middle East, he finds much more than he bargained for. Plans for a peaceful and harmless visit to the exotic land of seven-star hotels, international culture, food and shopping, quickly change when Gary attracts the attention of a beautiful, rebellious and enticing Muslim woman. Gary stumbles into a violent labor revolt triggered by the death of a poor immigrant construction worker, who falls from one of Dubai’s hundreds of fast-developing buildings.

The exploitation of thousands of disposable immigrant laborers emboldens an Egyptian revolutionary to seek vengeance for the greed and inhumane practices of Dubai’s business elite Arab Emirates. Meanwhile, the outspoken wife of Dubai’s youngest and most successful business leaders inspires an insurgence of young Muslim women---they seek empowerment, education and the freedom to pursue true love and romance.

Gary becomes entangled in the uprising when the radicals take hundreds of international tourists hostage at the same hotel where Gary is staying. To make matters worse, these zealots include the older brother of the beautiful Muslim woman who has fallen for Gary.

With nonstop action and cultural intrigue, Welcome to Dubai is the first full book in The Traveler series created by New York Times bestselling author Omar Tyree.

Welcome to Dubai (The Traveler)

Black Kindle - Guest Blogger - When in Dallas. BIG hair, don't care

NUMBER 175
Tell me what you think of the guest blog below.  I know her and she is a very, very good writer.  Definitely funny too:

Christmas was weird. And that’s pretty much all I have to say about that….

New Years was big in Texas. Dallas to be specific. But I’m not sure big is the right word. More like wide…like everywhere. There is so much space. I felt like I should be continuously contemplating life choices just walking down the street. I’ll certainly have the time. Thank god, our hotel was within walking distance of Starbucksthough , my one connection to city life. I’m  hopeless in rural areas despite my loving roots as a Clemson Tiger in the mountains. I consider those four years as amazingly wonderful, but very much temporary and my interaction with “real country” experiences limited/restricted to my red-neck best friend.

And then let’s talk about how very flat this state is. I’m not necessarily talking about the people, even though some are certainly more predictable that I’m used too, but you definitely get a sense of belonging there anyway. The few tall buildings that did exist happened to be banks not based in the country, and a lovely Reunion Tower, the purpose of which I’m still struggling to grasp. However let’s not forget that Dallas is the sight of one of our fallen presidents’ assassination. We did check out thee Kennedy Memorial and read the stories/follow the progression. It was a sobering experience, but an important one to have when in Dallas.

The gorgeous apartments and houses in Uptown suggest the occupation of one Courtney Kerr (whom I had no idea was an existing person until we got there and everyone proceeded to stalk her life) and various other “down-to-earth” celebrities.Breadwinners was a hit just as all the sites recommended it would be. Velvet Taco was freakin’ delicious and in a very unique location off the side of a main high way. Galleria mall is too impressive with a four story high Christmas tree right smack in the middle of a circular ice skating rink which you could casually view from every story. Yes, I went to the mall on vacation, because  it’s basically research. And I think we can all learn a thing or two about the necessity of a mall when toxic gases infiltrate the ozone layer…just saying.

Dallas was a success, apart from a few drama mishaps. I mean I expect nothing less in a group of 12 ladies, most of which reside in Florida where weirdness lives anyway, but there were two particular ladies that I friended on the trip and promptly defriended upon boarding my plane home. Hats off to these ladies, though, because it was cold and they aren’t cold people, but they remained troopers despite the misleading bright, sunny days viewable from hotel windows in contrast with harsh cold winds the minute you walk out the door.

Because of this trip, particularly the traveling aspects of it, I realized a few things that are kind of annoying (by that I mean definitely annoying). People who text with bad grammar…you had to purposefully put in those ridiculously misspelled words against the recommendation of your auto T9. This is not a good sign. Babies on planes: Yes I know they’re freaking adorable but on a 6 am flight they’re more like a migraine with an oversize (lets be honest, often unnecessary) stroller attached. Those very specific elders who believe they’ve been God’s gift to the world and as such should be guaranteed first class service at every turn. No you cannot have that last bagel just because you lived longer than me. No I’m not going to switch seats with you because you think the window would be better for your health. This is the metro, lady. We’re all screwed if we believe that mess. If anything these acts of self-entitlement suggest a life-long personality disorder (i.e. obnoxiousness), your simply using your age as an excuse to bring out those horrible personality traits you’ve probably had all along. Color me rude, but I believe in treating everyone as equals. Except for my grandmother. She’s different.

Yours till the New year’s resolution, i.e. be a better grown-up…here’s hoping.

On to books:

KATE SINCLAIRE - MAKE MONEY ONLINE - Exactly how I make over $3,000 monthly selling products on Etsy, Tophatter & eBay!!! - $2.99 - - - 

Tell me what you have to lose by buying it for this price, nothing.  You may gain some knowledge and get out there and do it.  Tophatter is new to me and I'm going to find out what it is.

Make Money Online - Exactly how I Make over $3,000 Monthly selling Products on Etsy, Tophatter & eBay!

BEATRYCE NIVENS - A VIEW FROM THE TOP: The Inspiring Success Stories of 15 Black CEOs, Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs - $8.99 - - - 

A pioneering success book that details the incredible and uplifting stories of fifteen of the country's leading, African American executives and entrepreneurs. These leaders sit or have sat at the helm of major U.S. corporations; they are members of prestigious corporate boards; they are or have been responsible for favorite products. 

But how did these business leaders become so successful? How did they rise to the very top? How did some of the entrepreneurs cut million dollar deals? Can their success be duplicated?

A View From The Top: The Inspiring Success Stories of 15 Black CEOs, Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs

Black Kindle - Stupidity has reached new heights!!!

NUMBER 174 
Before I get back to my Dave Ramsey story and I know I had promised to get to it quickly, I wanted to remind you how dimwitted, idiotic and completely boneheaded people are these days.  

I am a member of my church's book club.  One of the young in the group ladies told us what happen to her last week and you will not believe it. After she dropped off her son at practice, she and her daughter decided to hang out at Barnes & Noble and wait for him.  They found a table, got their drinks, her daughter rounded up about 10 books to review and she pulled out her lap top to read the book of the month. 

A few minutes later, a man, about 30 or 40, entered the store wearing a T-shirt and very short, shorts.  Looked like he was wear them as underwear.  She glanced at him for a minute then returned to reading her book.  The man then sat across from her and her daughter directly across from them at another table.  Half a hour went by and she looked up from her laptop when her daughter got up to get a refill of her drink. As she turned away from looking at her daughter she found her eyes on the strange man who had come in earlier dressed like "the beach" and noticed that he had his penis out under the table and rubbing it while smiling at her. 

Yes I said, he was holding his ding-a-ling and smiling. What did she do? She lower her eyes and calmly waited for her daughter, who is 16, to return to the table and then asked her daughter to not look toward the man and sit down and be still for a minute.  She got up, found the manager and notified him.  She returned to her table and did not look at the jackass.  A few minutes went by and the manager came and ask the man to leave the store.  He did without much fuss. The manager then returned and told my friend he was very sorry for the incident, but, now get this crap, they have had a problem with this particular man for a while.  He had been banned from Barnes & Noble in the state of South Carolina for his behavior and ever time he does this, a manger is instructed to contact the police and remove him from the store.  I want to know why don't they stop him before he comes in the store?  I guess the manager or staff may not be aware of his "issue."  

Is it me?  Is it really me?  What in the name of good common sense is that jackass doing in a bookstore, A Bookstore!!! showing off his penis. My friend told me she was not going to give him the satisfaction of starting a scene and that's why she did not laugh or say anything to him, or smile back. 

Me, I would have caused a scene, but she was smart to not. I would have told the manager too, but I may have been that crazy as women, who is a mother, and would have slapped the crap out of him and let every person there know that there is a nut here showing himself in front of children.  A Bookstore!!!! Did you get that?  Let's take him out side and bury him, I would have said, but that would not been smart of me.  I would have done exactly as she did and contacted the manager and called the police.

When I told my daughter about it, you know what she said, "Mommy, I'm sure you would have found the heaviest book in the store and smacked him up side his head, but that is not cool."  "The man obviously is asking for help and he needs it bad."  My kid.  I raised her right and she was right.  He needs help.  He needs to have his ass kick a few times then some professional help.

Stupidity has reached new heights when sick, sick people come into a bookstore and show off their genitals.  What in the hell was he thinking? He wasn't.  You see stuff like this on face book, news and everything place else and you wonder what in "stupid world" have we gone into. We need help.

OK back to my Dave Ramsey story of November. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm a few months behind.  Hey, a lot has happen in the last three months and I'm catching up.

I found the church, Brookwood in Simpsonvile, South Carolina.  I really was about a 4 hour drive from my home and since I'm use to driving 8 to 15 hours, it was a breeze.  Yes, I love to drive.  Long distance or not, I just love to drive.

It was about 15 minutes from the hotel.  I had asked the desk clerk how to get there and it just so happened she was also a Dave Ramsey fan, but she could not attend because she had to work. 

This is a beautiful church with seating of 5,000, a serious like Starbucks coffee shop, large parking lot and very nice sitting area to view on big screen TVs the services.  

Since I had gotten there so early, I walked around the church and it's parking lot. The weather was great and when I saw his 18 wheeler truck, I just about screamed. It reminded me of when I saw the Earth, Wind and Fire 18 wheeler truck in Houston when I went to volunteer at the National Black Book Festival. It was like being near a rock star.  My rock stars are Dave Ramsey and Earth, Wind and Fire. What better combination.

While waiting in the lobby for instructions, I met Vickie, a member of the church and John.  When you first meet people down here in the south, it amazes me how much they tell you about themselves.  I'm was born and raised in DC, which means it takes me a while to tell much about myself, but not these two.  Vickie just talked, talked and talked.  I barely got a word in, but that was OK, she was just the nicest person I have met.  

She told me the story of how she met her husband on Christian Single website.  She was just browsing and had made a comment on the site that she was a Dave Ramsey follower and did not want to date someone who did not attend church and follow the Ramsey plan.  She told me more women should tell exactly what they want before they start dating. That would stop a lot of crazy men from asking you out.  Her hubby was also a Dave Ramsey follower and out of debt due to it.  They met, dated a few months and then got married.  She works as a secretary and he is a long distance truck driver.  I did not meet him there, he was on a run.  

John and his wife drove from Atlanta.  John showed me pictures of him and Dave Ramsey from years ago.  They have known each other for over 20 years.  John owns 30 houses that he rents out.  Own his own too.  Funny thing he told me after I asked what do you do when the renters don't pay.  "I give them 30 days to catch up or they are evicted.  I am real close friends with the sheriff and have not had one problem getting people evicted."  I'm sure he hasn't.

Met many more people - Janice from Greenville, who is a nurse station at Ft. Jackson with her husband.  He hubby just got back from Afghanistan.  Joyce from Lexington, SC and Guy from Summerville, a suburb of Charleston.  We were assigned as a team to stand at the Dave Ramsey product booth and sell or answer any questions about his products. Many other volunteers arrived and by 7pm the show had started.

I was able to peak in the auditorium a few times to listen to Dave Ramsey and his daughter, Rachel Cruz.  I even took a picture with one of his front men, Joe.  I was just so excited the whole time I was there, that everyone around me were laughing and joking that they had never seen such a person so excited. Joe started calling me "The Dave Starker."  What an honor.  

We continued our volunteer assignment and just about all of their products were sold out.  Many people were local, church members and staff as well as the press.  One of the best parts, we were feed some great food.  Not sandwiches and such, full course meals.   Joe informed me that where ever they travel to, they find a local caterer to serve the volunteers.  

It was exciting, got new friends, travelled to a beautiful little city and enjoyed one of my best "road trips."  I cannot wait to go to Raleigh, North Carolina in April for the next one.  It was AWESOME SAUCE!!!!!

On to books.  I got one today since my blog is sooooo long, but tomorrow I will have more.

JOSH FARRAR - A SONG FOR BIJOU - $9.99 - - - 

This has to be one of the best YA books I have read.  It just so, don’t want to use the word, “cute”, but it is.  Alex Shredder attends St. Christopher all boys school.  Like he says, “Honestly, what is the point of a boys-only school in the twenty-first century?”  “Imagine looking at the same boring faces, day after day, for eight whole years.  With the exception of Nomura and Ira, if I never saw a single one of my classmates’ ugly mugs again, I would die happy.”  His best friends Nomura and Ira, are unique.  Ira is obsessed with something all of the time.  First Pokémon cards, Diary of a Wimpy kid and now vampires, zombies, werewolves and something I just learned about, “were-panthers,” it comes from the True Blood series on HBO.  

I don’t have a TV, so I did not know what it was until I Google it and found it associated with the TV show, True Blood.  So kick me.  I’m not into TV.  His other best friend, Nomura, reads the New York Times every morning while drinking a cup of black coffee.  According to Alex, “the kid is never more than ten feet away from the Times.”  Man, imagine his parents.

When Alex first sees Bijou, “the slow-motion thing happens.  It’s like the pause button’s been pushed on everything.”  Isn't that line soooooo cute!!!  He starts a serious search to find out who she is, as awkwardly as any 7th grade boy can, and begins to learn about Haiti, which is where Bijou is from.  

Bijou is from Haiti and was sent to America to her Aunt and Uncle after the earthquake.  Her Uncle, who has lived in America for years, has Bijou on a very strict regimen.  School, food shopping and church only.  She is also not interested in having a boyfriend.

When they finally meet at the school dance, Alex speaks French to her. Can you believe it.  He did not like being forced to learn French, now glad he did.  Some of it is wrong, but isn’t that the cutest thing.   

I would like to recommend that you watch ever thing you do in this world. The amount of videos taken by one kid, Ira, was too funny and just a bit too personal and some kids got hurt. What a world we live in now.  I can’t say much, there’s a few out there on YouTube of me in some sticky situations.

Through some crazy and unforgivable videos, secrets revealed, backstabbing middle school antics, Alex has to win back the friendship of Bijou.  After all she has gone through with the Haiti earthquake and it's aftermath, it’s going to take another major earthquake to get her back and Alex does.

A Song for Bijou

Black Kindle - Another cute book, well, maybe to me only.

NUMBER 173
I will continue my story, but I forgot a book or two to discuss. 

I must be in a Christian/Christmas/Happy mood because I have been reading all kinds of books that I am picking up from the library.  Don't worry, I also brought a few. Got to keep the independent bookstores open. 

I like Amish stories.  They are warm and not too much hell on wheels with drama and more drama.  Sometimes you just want to sit back and read a soft and heartwarming book (no, I could not think of another word for "heartwarming", so give me a break, will ya!)

There are times I just want to read a simple story and not try to figure out who murdered whom.  Also about drama on boats, houses, church, etc, etc.  I just want to clear my head of anything and be reserve.  While reading this, I found out I was reading book three.  Did not know there were others.  I may try book one and two.  

I can just hear you all now, "what the ding dong are you doing reading Amish stuff.  Get back to the African American books will ya?"  I will, I will.  So bear with me and take a chill pill.

PATRICIA DAVIDS - AN AMISH CHRISTMAS (BRIDES OF AMISH COUNTRY) - $3.74 - - - Karen Imhoff sees a man along the road almost beaten to death while driving her sister and brother to school.  She gets help and while waiting, she is holding his hand, praying and trying to get him to talk to find out what happen.  While she is holding his hand, something in her was moved - her heart.  Of course it was. 

Mr. John Doe, as he is named since his memory is gone, gets help but needs a place to stay.  He cannot stay with Karen and her family.  He is not one of Amish stock, he is a Englisher.  

He does receive some help from the community and eventually stays in one of the houses on Karen's land.  Her father not too happy about it but gives in.  As Christmas draws near, Karen and Mr. John Doe bond.  You know they do.  He gets a job and becomes part of the Amish community.  He is also beginning to have flashbacks of memories.  He finally gets his memory back while falling in love with Karen.  Will he stay or return back to his home. Read it. You know how it ends - Happy.  Ok, I get it.  Move on to another book.
An Amish Christmas (Brides of Amish Country, Book 3)

MARILYNN GRIFFITH - SONGS OF DELIVERANCE - $3.99 - - - I got this book at Mr. K's Used Book store a few weeks ago. It's my "going to bed" book.  You know.  I have a book at work, in my car for doctor/dentist visits, waiting for friends at the restaurant, kitchen, living room and I'm sure I missed some other places as well.  

I got to page 33 and figured out that this is the second book after, RHYTHMS OF GRACE - $3.99. I told you I've been lost and now I know one of the reasons.  Can't keep up with my books.  So far what I have read I see I will need book one to understand the characters better.  

Here's a review by "Inspire Me" on Amazon.  "I did not realize this was a sequel. Read Rhythms of Grace first!!! That being said I was still drawn in and will go back and read the first book to fill in some of the back story of these great characters!

This is some excellent Christian Fiction!! Some said it wasn't Christian enough. I say it is REAL Christian!!! Life isn't always filled with "Hallelujah." This book shows us the struggles of believers as they try to walk with God. The message of God's redemption and forgiveness from HIM and for others without a lengthy sermon or lecture is clearly communicated. It began with a bang and kept rolling. There are lots of characters who are all intermingled which keeps it interesting but easy to follow. I could not put it down. The characters are well written and believable. I laughed, cried, was worried and excited. This is my first time reading this author's work, but most definitely not my last. Great Work!!!"  

Not bad, not bad at all.

Songs of Deliverance

Black Kindle - Still a bit lost but it's coming up roses soon!

NUMBER 172

Remember when I said I felt a bit lost after losing the part time job yesterday?  I guess I should explain more.  I was mentally and physically getting ready, after my return from my vacation in September in DC, to going back to a seven day a week work schedule.  Well things changed.  I was let go of the Asylum job.  Was I worry, a bit.  I took that job to stay on my Dave Ramsey plan.  After the lost and I re-worked the figures, that's when I realized that I had accomplished more than I could have imagined.  I was not completely there yet, but I knew I could move forward, stay on track and reach the finish line.

Then it really hit me: I can sleep late on Saturdays (Not really. Tommy my dog gets me up at 5am).  I don't have to rush after church on Sundays to get to work.  Not rush after the full time job on Thursdays and Fridays to get to the second job on time.  Hangout with my friends on Friday & Saturday nights. Actually come home on time everyday. Walk Tommy more. Cook healthier dishes.  Read more.  Blog more. Watch all of those DVDs I paid $5.00.  Clean up my house and start donating items to the Goodwill.  Since the holidays were coming, start attending the holiday parties and other functions I missed in the last three years.  I was ready, but something was missing.  I could not figure out what.  I could not slow down and enjoy the time. I felt lost.  

Then an e-mail arrived on October 23 from the Dave Ramsey Team.  “Thank you for volunteering to work our live event in Greenville, SC to be held on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Brookwood Church, 580 Brookwood Point Place, Simpsonville, South Carolina 29681. You are helping us change our nation!.”  

The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

My heart stop.  I jumped up and down so excitedly in the room that Tommy (my dog) thought I was attacking him.  I thanked God, jumped again, laughed and screamed.  I was so excited, so awesomely excited. I had forgotten all about when I signed up.  I'm always signing up to volunteer somewhere in the world.  Sometimes I make it, like Houston, DC, Miami and now Simpsonville.  Where the hell is Simpsonville?  I never heard such a place.  I was scheduled to be there from 4 to 10pm, with dinner to be served.  I checked out Simpsonville on the map, it's very close to Greenville.  I looked at Tommy and screamed, "ROAD TRIP." Booked a hotel that accept pets and got more excited as time went by.  I could not wait to go.  

A week later, another e-mail arrived and I'm thinking, Oh, crap, it's been canceled.  They wanted to know if I could come at 11am instead of 4pm. Some volunteers backed out at the last minute.  No problem.  When I found out how far the drive would be, 3 hours, Tommy and I left at 6am and took our time.  I've driving up and down the coast many times, so I was familiar with the area.  It's is very close to my kid's college, Clemson.  Go Tigers!!!! 

When you check out hotels on the Internet, it is never as it appears when you arrive. The hotel was a bit sketchy outside and not too dirty as well as not a "hooker" hotel.  Also was not far from pretty good strip mall and behind it a Quality Inn. Sketchy hotels/Motels don't bother me.  I got my dog and my policemen stick.

Oh, yeah, I carry a serious policemen stick with my trusted pepper spray.  No women who travels alone should be without something to defend herself and since I have always had to fight, growing up with 13 boys surrounding you.  You learn how to fight early and where to hit, grab and pull the hardest. I was driving down to Miami one time and stopped at one a rest stop.  Come out of the bathroom and was approached by a large, big belly, older and stinking to high hell funky black guy. He made a crack about being a women alone there.  I just kept walking to my car.  He may have found some young filly or some idiot women to fall for that line, but not me.  He then started to follow me and continue to talk crap, while I continue to walk to my car.  

I walked slowly because I knew what I was going to do, but I know he didn't.  I hit the car alarm button and Tommy started barking out the window like he was going to have this man's ass for dinner.  I turned around and told him to back the hell off or he was going to become sushi for Tommy.  He then saw Tommy and saw the policeman's stick in my hand when I turned around slowly, while I pounded it gently in my other hand and said he was sorry and walked back to his car.  I have watched a lot of Pam Grier's kick ass movies. 

No, I may not had been able to really hurt him, but I was going to damn sure try to ensure he will never have kids. Take one of those free defending classes at your local police station.  It works.

Once we got to the room, it was amazing inside.  Clean and I mean clean with Clorox bleach.  52 inch TV (since I don't have a TV a home, this was awesome).  Coffee/Tea maker, refrigerator and a nice sitting area.  I was surprised and I had brought my own Pine Sol mixture. Thinking, as I have done so many times before, clean the room first before I get comfortable.  Yes, I travel with my own Clorox bleach and Pine Sol.  Many and I mean many hotels are using cheap cleaners and don't change the damn sheets. They probably wash them in soap instead of soap and real bleach such as Clorox.  

After I settled in, I walked Tommy outside the hotel for a while so he could take care of his business.  I then left him in the room to finally, finally meet the one and only Dave Ramsey.

OK, too long of a blog.  Will continue story tomorrow.  

KILLER LIBRARIAN - MARY LOU KIRWIN - $6.83 - - - You know every British murder mystery should always have the most suspicious and creepy characters.  Now, it does not take away from the murder nor finding out who kill the person or persons, but when you add a group of “asylum” characters, it just makes it funny and you know one of them did it.  

As you know by now, I am a serious, serious bibliophile.  When I saw this book in the library, a bell went off.  I figure, well let’s see, my favorite place - Library, my favorite city - London, my favorite British authors; Agatha Christie (Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot), Dorothy L. Sayers (Lord Peter Wimsey), and a new black British writer I found recently, Mike Phillips (black journalist Sam Dean).  So it was inevitable that I would borrow this book.    

Karen Nash, a librarian in Minnesota, is getting ready to take a long dream trip to London with boyfriend Dave.  Hours before the plane takes off, Dave dumps her.  Hurt and confused, she manages to pull herself together and still take that trip.  Guess what, Dave and his new younger girlfriend are on the same plane.  Why are men still leaving their girlfriends or wive for a younger model?  Have they learn yet that it's cheaper and safer to keep her? Dumb ass!

In London she meets Caldwell Perkins, owner of the B&B that she and Dave were scheduled to stay in.  And the suspicious and creepy characters are also staying there: Betty and Barb, older women from Nebraska who completes each others sentences as well as dress alike; Howard, a very old gentlemen, 70s, with his new very young wife 30s, (yuck!!!) and Francine, a french woman who owns her own business selling linens whose an eccentric nut.

Her first night in London, Caldwell takes her to the local pub (I just love that word "pub") where she meets two blokes, Twad and Tweed, who drinks with her and Caldwell.  May add that she drinks a bit much than she could handled.  While Caldwell is getting her and their new friends more drinks, Karen blabs to another customer in the pub, Guy, about how she wishes she could kill Dave for what he has done.  Guy understands Karen's heart break and tells her, "You'll will be surprised. Dave will be taken care. I'll make sure he is."  Don't you just love it when a man takes charge?

This starts things rolling and one person is dead, someone is after Dave and his new girlfriend and Karen is feeling all of this is her fault.  She stays focus, looks for the killer and continues with the scheduled planned she had for her vacation in London. The plan she had for her and Dave (Dumb Ass!).  Now this is where I truly enjoyed reading about: Caldwell is a serious bibliophile and she start to fall in love with him, she visits the National Gallery to see her favorite painting Rain, Steam and Speed; Trafalgar Square; a trip with Caldwell to see Macbeth at the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre; and shopping at the small shops.  Karen gets real close to Caldwell and starts a growing fondness towards him. I would too with a man who loves books, reading and his B&B has books in all of the guest rooms.  Love it!

The best and more exciting thing of her adventures, other than finding the killer and falling in love with Caldwell is Hay-on-Wye.

What is Hay-on-Wye, Karen says, "A small town located on the border of England and Wales with at least thirty antiquarian bookstores.  Mecca to book collectors.  I was dying to go there.  When I had planned the trip with Dave, I hadn't dared suggest we go to Hay-On-Wye.  I knew Dave would have died of boredom,"

You see when I read stuff like that through out the book about Dave - Mr.Toad-Mr. Plumber, I'm glad he dumped her.  He was definitely not a reader and in my book, I would have not wasted my time.  I think I would have dumped him first. Dumb Ass!

OK, back to the book.  Snippets here and there about her adventures with Caldwell and London were funny and so romantic.  Of course the killer is found out and of course the book ends happily.  It's a great cozy, hot toddy in a big comfy chair book.  I'm getting the second book.  Some body else has to be killed. It's no fun if no one is killed.

Killer Librarian

A KISS OF A DIFFERENT COLOR - BETTYE GRIFFIN - $3.99 - - -  30ish old Miranda has had it looking for employment in Racine, Wisconsin.  It's been nine months. She takes a job offer in Bismarck, North Dakota.  Have you noticed lately in many books, women are leaving town to find a decent job and a decent man?  You think something is up with that?

There aren't that many African Americans in Bismarck.  I can understand that, it's too damn cold.  Once she is there she looks around for something to keep her busy after work and finds a ballroom dance class to sign up.  Miranda has always love dancing and some of her favorite musicals:  Band Wagon, Singing in the Rain, Silk Stockings and Till the Clouds Roll By (one of my favorite with Lena Horne).  I instantly like her because of her fortitude to keep her childhood memories of old musicals and taking a chance to move to another state.

At the ballroom dancing class, she meets and is partnered with Jon, a white guy.   The attraction is obviously and they begin to make great music together their dancing.  Jon, another out of state mover, is handsome, endearing and smart.  He is also from a family of failed marriages which causes him to do the "love them and leave them seasons relationship."  

They work for the same company, which restricts dating among employees, but you know that does not really stop them.  They have a extreme attraction to each other and are careful to not be seen together.  In the interim they noticed how much they have in common.  Reading, skiing, movies, food and dancing.  Miranda, though, is not interested in being a "season" girlfriend for Jon.  She wants more.  One of the best things about Jon, he comes through as a knight in shinning armor for Miranda when certain people, oh, let's just call them "jack-asses" dismiss or treat them badly because their an interracial couple.  Jon comes through each and every time and each and every time Miranda gives a little of her self to him even though she does not want to.  Her heart has a different story.  

I enjoyed the slowness and believable aspects of the characters and how they relate to what's going in the world today.  Bettye did a great job in showing how down to the wire, no job, new city, new challenges, can become a blessing if you just take a chance.

A Kiss of a Different Color