Once upon a time…..

By: Michele Lemieur

Once upon a time there was a book that attracted readers young and old.  I am sure that when Stephanie Meyer wrote Twilight that she did not expect the global ramifications that it would leave in its wake.  I personally was a late comer to the Twilight world, but soon learned that it was so much more than a young adult, paranormal love triangle between a human girl, a vampire and a werewolf.

After numerous times of picking up the book and putting it back on the shelf, I said ‘what the heck!’ and bought it.  I lived in Phoenix, Arizona for many years and was instantly hooked.  Bella spoke of a place that I once called home and my school district by name. I saw myself in her.  Having moved from Phoenix when I was a freshman in high school to a small town in Northern Michigan and her to Washington, her struggles were mine.

I power read that series within a matter of a few days. Seeking out others who felt as I did, I found myself on the TwilightMoms website where I discovered a page for Michigan Moms. Who knew that what happened next would change my life forever.  A Michigan woman invited me to join her yahoo group, MiTwi (Michigan Twilight Moms) only to find out she lived ten minutes from me.  So, I took a chance and called her and made a date to see Twilight.

Sonya and I became fast friends as did the other MiTwi’s.  Nine years later, our lives  are intertwined so far beyond a book series.  We encourage each other, support each other and love each other like sisters.  The core numbers have dwindled some, but we’re still connected via social media.  Some have gotten married, some have had children, some have new business ventures and others live vicariously through our international traveler.

A seven years ago, I traveled to Forks with three of my girls. It was more than just about a book.  Sure we went to LaPush, Rialto Beach, the real high school, hiked the Hoh (rainforest that is), but we fell in love with this quiet little corner of the world. We all threaten to move there permanently one day. The Twilight craze had died, but the lifelong bonds that were made because of a book will live on forever.

Sunset at LaPush Indian Reservation (photo by M Lemieur)

Ya, that’s me. Happy. Peaceful.

P.S…..all photos by me 🙂

 

 

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Monthly Book Review

 By Valari Roberts

I work as a book reviewer Platypire Reviews, under the name Platypire Bob.  While my reviews aren’t deep or exactly life-shattering, I do try my best to get the point across.  We thought you guys might enjoy reading one once in a while, so from now on, I’ll share one of my reviews here once a month, and I’ll try to pick a fun for y’all.  I hope you like it!

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You can find my original posting of this at: http://www.platypire.com/bob/infection-sympatico-syndrome-book-one-by-mp-mcdonald

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What started as a “flu” outbreak on a military base proves deadlier than Ebola and more contagious than the Spanish Flu. Sympatico Syndrome is unlike anything the world has ever seen. Victims’ behavior is changing to accommodate the rapid spread of the virus.
Former Navy epidemiologist Cole Evans is well aware of the rare, infectious diseases the military studies. He also knows, first-hand, the government’s stance on sharing information with the public, so if the media has already learned about the disease, then it’s far too late to contain the outbreak.
Faced with an extinction event, Cole’s only chance to save his family is to establish a safe haven. Isolated, hard to reach, and with enough space for his brother’s family as well, he has the perfect location–if only they can all reach it before they’re infected…

Get this exciting post-apocalyptic thriller today.

 

MY REVIEW:

*I received an audio copy of this book to be honestly reviewed*

I’m not finished with this book yet, but since I can’t seem to force any words to appear past “the end”, I suppose I have to give up and just write a review.

There was a lot to love about this book. First of all, a whole new disease, unique to every other infectious disease book I’ve ever read, made this a fresh idea, something wholly new to me, which is always awesome. The characters were well written, some with heart breaking backgrounds, some having their heartbreak played out before our eyes, and, I suspect, more heartbreak to come? That was another thing: not all of the tragedy was distant. Some of it was up close and personal.

I really enjoyed that, while they do have a safe place to go, the characters are not immediately experts at what what to do or what they might need, in an apocalyptic event. While they have a basic knowledge of survival, as most do now, they are learning as they go, knowing they’ll have to in order to make it.

Really well written and well paced. It follows more than one character, but I never got confused about through whose eyes I was seeing, as sometimes happens with multiple POV.

The narrator has a deep and pleasant voice and a steady pace, though at times I felt like he wasn’t familiar with the book. Nothing to take me out of the experience, though.

I can’t wait for more!

 

 

GOODREADS

With Love and Lysol,

Val

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