JaToya Reviews: Barbara Taylor Sissel, Evidence of Life

Summary:

On the last ordinary day of her life, Abby Bennett feels like the luckiest woman alive. But everyone knows that luck doesn't last forever.… As her husband, Nick, and daughter, Lindsey, embark on a weekend camping trip to the Texas Hill Country, Abby looks forward to having some quiet time to herself. She braids Lindsey's hair, reminds Nick to drive safely and kisses them both goodbye. For a brief moment, Abby thinks she has it all—a perfect marriage, a perfect life—until a devastating storm rips through the region, and her family vanishes without a trace.

When Nick and Lindsey are presumed dead, lost in the raging waters, Abby refuses to give up hope. Consumed by grief and clinging to her belief that her family is still alive, she sets out to find them. But as disturbing clues begin to surface, Abby realizes that the truth may be far more sinister than she imagined. Soon she finds herself caught in a current of lies that threaten to unhinge her and challenge everything she once believed about her marriage and family.

With a voice that resonates with stunning clarity, Barbara Taylor Sissel delivers a taut and chilling mystery about a mother's love, a wife's obsession and the invisible fractures that can shatter a family.

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My Review:

I have to be honest. I've had this book awhile and I just got around to reading it. Then when I decided to read it, I started the first chapter and put it down for like a month. It wasn't that I didn't find the book interesting, I just wasn't in the mood to read it. It started off slow. It was hard for me to get into. Then it did pick back up and I was able to read it in a day. I loved the mystery and the suspense. There were some parts that were a little boring but wanting to find out what happened to Nick and Lindsey kept me reading. I wanted to know. I had to know. I found the main character Abby to be relatable. I feel she did what any mother and wife would do if they were ever in her situation. I did however find her to be really naive, especially for a woman her age. I also didn't understand why everyone around her treated her almost like a child. They felt the need to protect her from the truth. As for "the truth", I did have my own theories but they turned out to be wrong. Part of me wishes something else would have happened, but it didn't. For me it wasn't predictable or maybe I just wasn't paying enough attention but I digress. I did think the story just ended abruptly and that's my biggest pet peeve. I would have liked a better explanation and what really happened to Nick and Lindsey (how it happened rather) just felt a little stupid. Like I said, there were things in the story that should have been explained better. It was like out of all the things that could have happened the author chose the one that I felt was the most preventable if that makes sense. There was suspense, it kept me guessing, and I wanted more. I do recommend this book, but it wasn't my favorite by any means. It was a good way to pass the time and I was entertained for the most part. There are better books out there, but it wasn't a total waste of time. 

JaToya Reviews: Elizabeth Scott, Living Dead Girl

Summary:

Once upon a time, I was a little girl who disappeared.

Once upon a time, my name was not Alice.

Once upon a time, I didn't know how lucky I was. 

When Alice was ten, Ray took her away from her family, her friends -- her life. She learned to give up all power, to endure all pain. She waited for the nightmare to be over. 

Now Alice is fifteen and Ray still has her, but he speaks more and more of her death. He does not know it is what she longs for. She does not know he has something more terrifying than death in mind for her. 

This is Alice's story. It is one you have never heard, and one you will never, ever forget.

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My Review:

The way this book is written is unlike any other novel I've personally read before. It's interesting and it makes the story different. It took some getting used to but it also makes the book a very fast read. I finished it in less than a day simply because I couldn't put it down. It's disturbing, heartbreaking, and it's hard to read. Don't think it's hard to read because of the writing, it's hard to read due to the subject. It's never easy to read about child abduction. It's never easy to read about the way a child suffers, but that's were Scott is brilliant. The way she wrote the story makes you want to keep reading although it may be hard to at times. I felt said and mad. I cried because like I said, this story is heartbreaking. I was also left with a question. The ending of this book is one that can be interpreted in a number of ways. I reread the ending and to me it is brilliant (I keep using that word, sorry). For me, I love when things aren't so clear cut and you have to draw your own conclusions. After I finished the book, I was a crying mess but I immediately wanted my mom to read it because I love getting different perspectives on books and discussing them. If you've reading this, let me know what you thought of it. I recommend this book. It's a fast read, but it's not boring. I have read parts of it again and it still makes me feel something. It's worth reading for yourself, I don't think you'll regret it. 

Supplies to keep in handy for plants

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Here are a few things I always have around that help me take care of my plants.

Vinegar.

I always have either apple cider vinegar or regular white vinegar around. It can be used as a trap for fungus gnats expecially when it's mixed with liquid soap.

Alcohol.

Alcohol is great for getting rid of spider mites.

Spray bottles.

I have several spray bottles on hand at all times. I have one filled with regular water that I use to mist my plants. Another one is filled with a liquid soap and water mixture, which is great for gnats as well as spider mites. Then I have one that is filled with a water and peroxide mixture, for gnats as well.

Rainwater.

I collect rainwater anytime it rains. I love watering my plants with it.

Epson salt.

I water my plants with Epson salt once a month and they love it. It's also good to mix with soil and you can sprinkle it on the top of your plant's soil. 

These are the things I always have that keep my plants healthy and pest free.